“In less than a month, it will be your grand wedding.”
After the evening meal, Madam Jiang and Xue Mingfei were having an intimate conversation in the room.
“I have prepared a dowry list for you here, Mother. Take a look and see if anything is missing.”
Madam Jiang came from a decent background, and her dowry back then was quite substantial.
Her dowry, naturally, was reserved for her own children.
As for Xue Wanyi’s dowry, it would naturally be prepared from the public funds.
Xue Mingfei clung to Madam Jiang’s arm, her demeanor affectionate.
“Thank you, Mother. What about my sister?”
She lowered her head to look at the dowry list, which was naturally less impressive than in her previous life.
There was no other reason—in her previous life, she had married the Duke of Zhenguo, and the palace had bestowed many fine things.
Now, that was no longer possible.
Although she felt regretful and even somewhat resentful, there was nothing she could do about it.
To marry Ye Zhuo again and remain a widow for the rest of her life—she couldn’t do it.
One or two years might still be tolerable.
But a lifetime was far too long.
For others, remarrying after a husband’s death was naturally possible.
But the Ye family was full of loyal martyrs, leaving only Ye Zhuo as the sole dying heir.
If she wanted to remarry, even the Emperor could have her follow him in burial.
Madam Jiang said, “This is my dowry. As for her, the palace will naturally arrange and add to her trousseau.”
With an imperial decree for marriage, the palace would naturally bestow rewards.
“Crack—Boom—”
Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside.
The oppressive weather that had lingered for so long finally unleashed its force.
Xue Mingfei couldn’t help but tremble in fright.
“This rain is likely to be heavy.”
Madam Jiang patted her daughter’s hand reassuringly and said, “It’s getting late. Rest early before the rain starts.”
“Yes!” Xue Mingfei stood up, folded the dowry list neatly, and placed it in the pouch at her waist. “Mother, I’ll head back now. You should retire early as well.”
Outside, the wind howled, and thunderclouds rolled overhead.
Madam Jiang escorted her daughter to the doorway and said with concern, “Qingtan, see the eldest young lady back.”
“Yes, Madam.” Qingtan was the first-rank maid in Tinglan Courtyard, second only to Nanny Lin. She served Madam Jiang closely and was deeply trusted by her.
**
“Tonight, there might be a heavy storm.”
“It seems so. The weather is truly strange.”
After seeing Xue Mingfei off, Qingtan braved the fierce night wind to return to Tinglan Courtyard. Passing by Ouxiang Pavilion, she overheard the voices of maids from the manor carried by the night breeze.
She paid it no mind and walked behind the two.
“The eldest young lady is about to marry. I truly don’t understand why she would give up the Zhenguo Gong Mansion. Even if the Duke of Zhenguo is lacking, he is still a first-rank duke.”
“The eldest young lady’s marriage was arranged in her childhood. Wouldn’t not marrying be breaking the agreement?”
“That’s true.”
One of them nodded, then slightly lowered her voice and said something.
To Qingtan, who was walking behind, it felt like the rolling thunderclouds overhead, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
“By the way, have you noticed that the eldest young lady resembles Concubine Qiu more, while the second young lady actually looks more like our Madam…”
What followed, Qingtan hardly dared to listen.
Images of the two young ladies’ faces surfaced in her mind.
“Crack—”
A bolt of lightning split the night sky, startling the two maids ahead into screams before they dashed away.
At that moment, Qingtan, despite standing in the chilly night wind of early spring, broke into a cold sweat and saw stars before her eyes.
Looking up, the path ahead was now empty.
The lanterns hung throughout the manor swayed violently in the night wind, their candlelight flickering and shadows looming.
It all seemed exceptionally terrifying.
She seemed…
To have discovered something extraordinary.
If it truly was as she suspected, then Concubine Qiu's "strange" behavior over the years would have a perfect explanation.
Why was she so harsh toward the Second Young Miss, yet so attentive and fawning toward the Eldest Young Miss?
Once, Qingtan had privately discussed with the other maids in Tinglan Courtyard, thinking Concubine Qiu was too foolish.
No matter how much she tried to please the Eldest Young Miss, it would be useless…
Quickening her steps, even the biting night wind could not deter her from returning to Tinglan Courtyard.
**
The two maidservants cautiously returned to Wangshu Pavilion and found Feicui.
"Sister, it must have been successful."
Feicui nodded, handing them the food box she was holding.
With concern in her voice, she said, "You've worked hard. The night is cold, hurry back to your rooms."
The two held the food box, smiling gratefully as they thanked Feicui before turning to leave.
Feicui returned to her room and saw Xue Wanyi still practicing calligraphy by the candlelight.
"Young Miss, they just returned to their rooms."
As she spoke, a worried expression appeared on her face. "Won't they reveal your plan?"
Xue Wanyi continued writing without pause.
She smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that foolish."
Those two maids would absolutely never switch sides to Xue Mingfei.
They wished Xue Mingfei dead.
Xue Mingfei wasn't purely evil; in fact, she even had a somewhat good reputation among the daughters of officials.
Unfortunately.
She did not kill the innocent, yet the innocent died because of her.
The two maids had entered the manor a year and a half ago. Both had older brothers who were also servants of the Xue family.
Due to an instance of Xue Mingfei's meddling, they faced retaliation, resulting in the gruesome deaths of several servants around them.
Although the Xue family provided compensation, not everyone values money more than life.
In her previous life, these two young maids died on the eve of Xue Mingfei's wedding.
They were accused of plotting against Xue Mingfei and were beaten to death.
The Yun Dynasty did offer some protection to servants; masters could not arbitrarily kill them.
But the charge against these two was attempting to harm their mistress, which made their lives forfeit.
Moreover, Xue Mingfei was about to marry Ye Zhuo, the Duke of Zhenguo, so even the authorities dared not intervene.
In most cases, the nobility could completely override ordinary laws.
Even if the authorities knew, they would turn a blind eye.
"Feicui, starting tomorrow, have Wang Yuan keep an eye on that family, especially the child."
Feicui nodded. "Does the Young Miss mean someone might target them?"
Xue Wanyi raised an eyebrow. "That's certain."
Knowing such a big secret and still being alive until now—that's a rare thing.
"Who?" Feicui lowered her voice. "Concubine Qiu, or…"
She didn't dare finish the sentence.
Just the thought made her feel her liver and gallbladder might rupture, sending chills down her spine.
Xue Wanyi curled her lips into a reassuring smile.
"Don't be afraid. No matter who it is, we must set things right in the end."
And it must be before she married.
Xue Mingfei might be innocent, but she herself was the greatest victim.
Concubine Qiu's dislike, even harshness, toward her own daughter was no secret within the Xue family.
The imperial decree for the marriage had been finalized; there was no possibility of changing it.
Her life was now protected by the sturdiest shield.
No matter what choice the Xue family made, she would return to her rightful place.
Having died tragically in her previous life, she no longer had the energy to hope for familial affection in this one.
She only wanted Chu Yuan dead.
And by the same method.
"Feicui!"
"Young Miss." Feicui stepped forward and trimmed a section of the candlewick.
Xue Wanyi said, "After I marry into the Duke's Manor, I'll choose an auspicious day to release your indenture contract and let you marry Wang Yuan."
Feicui's cheeks flushed crimson, "The young lady is most important."
These words were true.
In her past life, Feicui and Zhenzhu had indeed lived by this principle, yet they met a tragic end.
"Young lady…"
Zhenzhu's voice came from outside, "Nanny Lin is here."
Inside the room, mistress and maid exchanged a glance.
So soon!
"Please show her in."