After not having to go to the border, Wei Qingge came out to enjoy herself.
She went to the General's Mansion, wanting to go shopping with Lan Murou.
However, upon entering, the butler said the person was not in the mansion.
She came out suspiciously and inquired around, only to hear that the person had gone to an banquet with Tantai Ye.
This scared her greatly.
How could this be?
Her father had also gone to the Southern Mansion, and Tantai Ye had brought Li Yan. She had come with A Luan to find Lan Murou to go out and play because she was afraid Lan Murou would be bored in the mansion.
Now they were telling her that Lan Murou had gone to an banquet with Tantai Ye, which was pure nonsense.
After a moment of thought, she realized something was wrong.
The Tantai family had always wanted to kill Murou. They hadn't succeeded due to Tantai Ye, but perhaps they were taking this opportunity of Tantai Ye's wedding to deal with Murou first.
Heavens.
As Wei Qingge thought this, panic immediately rose in her heart. Murou was weak and would surely be bullied.
She immediately pulled up her skirt and wanted to go to the Southern Mansion to find Tantai Ye.
At this moment, Ye Luan's voice came from the teahouse ahead.
"Qingge, where is she? Isn't she coming out?"
Wei Qingge immediately ran over, grabbed her hand, and said anxiously, "She's not in the mansion. Something must have happened."
"What do you mean?"
Ye Luan was confused. "Did Murou have an accident? What kind of accident?"
Wei Qingge said, "I went to find her, and she wasn't in the mansion. She must have been taken away by the Tantai family."
Upon hearing this, Ye Luan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I know Murou. She's reclusive and doesn't like socializing. In the capital, she has very few friends and usually hides in her mansion when there's nothing going on."
"But the people in the mansion said she went to an banquet with Tantai Ye, which is impossible. Tantai Ye didn't bring her. So, it must be the Tantai family who took her away. Only someone from the Tantai clan could have taken her from the General's Mansion without anyone noticing."
"What should we do, A Luan?"
Ye Luan held her hand and pondered for a moment.
"Don't worry for now."
"How can I not worry? Her temperament is too soft, and she might be killed. No, I'm going to the Tantai family to demand her return--"
As she spoke, Wei Qingge was about to rush off.
Ye Luan quickly stopped her and said, "You won't be able to get into the Tantai mansion. You go find Tantai Ye first, and I'll go to the back gate of the Tantai mansion to scout for information."
"But Tantai Ye is busy in the Southern Mansion discussing matters of the southern border with some generals. I'm afraid he won't have the time or be willing to come."
"He will come. He definitely will."
Ye Luan's voice was firm. "Moreover, he might already know. Go to the Southern Mansion to find him and see if he's still there."
Hearing this, Wei Qingge nodded hurriedly and headed to the Southern Mansion.
Ye Luan's guess was not wrong.
Tantai Ye had long placed someone by Madam Yuehua's side. As soon as this incident occurred, someone went to the Southern Mansion to find him.
At that time, he was at the banquet, amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversation.
A guard quietly walked in and stood beside him, speaking respectfully.
"General, Madam has brought Miss Lan back to the mansion."
Tantai Ye frowned and put down his wine cup.
"Mother took her?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
The guard said, "The嬷嬷 (mó.mō - wet nurse/old woman servant) planted in the mansion said Madam took her to the Buddhist hall."
Tantai Ye impatiently rubbed his forehead. "What is she trying to cause now?"
"Our people are watching, and she should be fine. Does the General want to go back?"
Princess Qingge, who was nearby, heard their conversation and a triumphant smile flashed in her eyes.
She suppressed her excitement and looked over gently.
"General, what's wrong?"
Tantai Ye leaned lazily against the round chair behind him, his narrow eyes flashing with annoyance, and did not respond to her.
Seeing him like this, Li Yan's heart flashed with vicious malice.
She tightly gripped the handkerchief in her hand, her fingernails digging into her palm as if she felt no pain.
It was because of that woman again.
She now occupied his heart completely, and he didn't even look at her.
If she married in, she would only have the title of mistress, no affection, and no one would take her seriously.
Hmph.
Unfortunately, that woman was about to die.
How could a dead person compete with her?
"Have the people planted in the mansion keep an eye on her, and don't let anything happen."
The guard understood Tantai Ye's meaning upon hearing his words.
"Yes."
Tantai Ye held his wine cup and drank, but he felt uneasy. With a somber expression, he perfunctorily dealt with those who came to toast him.
After a moment, he couldn't sit still any longer and stood up, intending to leave.
"General--"
At this moment, a minister from the court walked over and stopped Tantai Ye.
"I heard that in the matter of Lingnan this time, the Prince dispatched ten thousand Mo Family soldiers."
It was Gao Lingyun, the Minister of War.
Tantai Ye stopped and turned back, sneering, "Lord Gao, are you dissatisfied with the Prince's decree?"
"How dare I!" Gao Lingyun smiled wryly. "With the war about to begin, the Ministry of War will be busy. I just wanted to discuss the matter of military provisions with the General."
Li Yan, standing nearby, smirked with malice. She figured that woman was about to be executed, and the Tantai family would definitely not let Tantai Ye leave so easily.
She hadn't expected that the Minister of War was also from the Tantai family.
Tantai Ye had long been dissatisfied with their delays. Taking this opportunity, he decided to reprimand them and stood there discussing military affairs with him.
However, not long after, another secret guard planted in the mansion came to report.
"General, the嬷嬷 (mó.mō) in the mansion said that Madam intends to bestow death upon Miss Lan."
Tantai Ye's face, which had been smiling, instantly froze.
He turned back coldly, "What did you say?"
The secret guard respectfully said, "Our people saw Madam order poisoned wine, a dagger, and a white silk noose to be prepared and taken to the Buddhist hall."
Tantai Ye was instantly filled with rage, and an inexpressible killing intent surged into his heart.
He kicked the secret guard away and roared, "Why didn't you stop her?"
The secret guard spat out blood and crawled, not daring to speak. After all, she was Madam, and they dared not openly snatch the person.
This scene startled everyone, and they all looked over.
Tantai Ye threw down his wine cup and immediately prepared to return to the mansion.
"General--"
Li Yan quickly tried to follow him out.
But in the next second, secret guards appeared and stopped her.
Therefore, when Wei Qingge came to look for him, she saw Tantai Ye galloping away from the Southern Mansion on his horse, and she couldn't stop him.
"It seems A Luan was right. He did know."
Wei Qingge quickly tugged at her skirt and followed.
Tantai Mansion.
In the main hall.
The Old Madam sat in the head seat, looking at Yuehua Madam, who was reporting back. A sharp glint flashed in her cloudy eyes.
"Dead?"
Madam Yuehua bowed, "Yes, I have already ordered someone to take her out for burial."
Upon hearing that the woman was finally dead, the madams sitting below began to laugh and talk.
"She should have been executed years ago, so as to prevent the Second Master from being estranged from the family for so many years."
Tantai Ye was the only eldest son of the Tantai clan's main branch.
When Madam Yuehua gave birth to her eldest grandson years ago, he died young. Therefore, although Tantai Ye was the second son of the main branch, he was the only one left in the eldest branch of the main family.
The other madams in the mansion all respectfully called him Second Master.
After all, the entire Tantai family would be his in the future.
The Old Madam nodded with satisfaction. "He has been consorting with that woman all along and is not serious about his marriage. If we tolerate him further, who knows what this unfilial descendant will do."
Upon hearing the Old Madam's words, those seated had various expressions.
This Old Madam was quite something. Wasn't it just because he didn't come back to see her due to a heart ailment that she acted? Now she was finding some high-sounding excuse.
"Yes, Second Master will definitely not be estranged from the Old Madam because of a dead woman. Please rest assured."
The others also chimed in.
In the main hall, there was a burst of laughter.
But then, suddenly, a sharp, cold blade flew through the air, whistling straight towards the forehead, grazing the Old Madam's temple and embedding itself directly into the red pillar behind her.
This scene shocked everyone, and screams erupted.
They quickly turned to look and saw Tantai Ye, dressed in black, striding in, his face chillingly cold.
"Where is she?!"