"Auntie, please wait here a moment. Let this servant go see if Miss is awake," Yin Zhu said as she entered the room. She saw Xiao Man sitting by the window, engrossed in a book. "Miss, Aunt Lin wishes to see you."
"Let her in," Xiao Man replied without looking up.
Aunt Lin had been beaten because of her. Father was furious and had sent her and the fourth sister away from the estate. The moment she returned, she was eager to request an audience. The underlying implications were thought-provoking.
Especially now that Father had returned to the barracks without returning the guards to Grandmother, and the power of managing the household was in the hands of the third aunt. It was only natural that Madam Yan would become restless.
"Greetings to the eldest young lady," Aunt Lin said as she walked in. Her posture was graceful and her demeanor alluring, truly a temptress. However, her father was not a lecherous man. Aunt Lin, having originated from a less reputable background, was able to enter the General's estate as a concubine and even bore a daughter, which revealed her considerable skill.
"Auntie need not be so formal. I heard the fourth sister was ill, is she better?" Xiao Man gestured for Aunt Lin to rise, her eyes still fixed on the book.
Aunt Lin studied Xiao Man carefully. At first, she hadn't noticed, but now she increasingly felt that this eldest young lady was like a changed person. A dignity emanated from her very bones, which made Aunt Lin a little apprehensive.
"Fourth Miss is much better, thank you for your concern, Eldest Young Lady. This is a scripture that Concubine and Fourth Miss copied while at Ziyun Nunnery for your blessings," Aunt Lin placed the scripture down. "May Eldest Young Lady be safe and prosperous, free from illness and disaster."
"Thank you, Aunt Lin."
"Furthermore, this concubine has also prayed for a safety charm for Eldest Young Lady. It has been blessed by a nun from Ziyun Nunnery. It is said to be very effective. I hope Eldest Young Lady will not find it too shabby."
After placing the items down, Aunt Lin departed. Xiao Man hooked the safety charm with her finger, and it swung back and forth with her movement.
"Miss, what does Aunt Lin mean by this?" Qiu Tong was rather confused. These past few days, she had found excuses to send the other two maids away. Now, only their trusted people were in Shuiyue Pavilion. Though few in number, they were all dependable. Except... Qiu Tong glanced at Nongyue outside.
"Her? She's giving gifts," Xiao Man indifferently placed the safety charm she was holding onto the scripture. As her hand skimmed over the scripture, it paused slightly, and then a smile of unknown meaning appeared on her lips.
Aunt Lin returned to her courtyard. Upon entering her room, she discovered someone already inside, startling her. She quickly closed the door. "In broad daylight, how did you sneak into the General's estate? Aren't you afraid of being discovered!"
The person gave Aunt Lin a cold glance. "My young master asks why the matter you were instructed to handle has yet to yield results."
Aunt Lin's face turned pale. "I will handle what my young master has commanded. The current eldest young lady is not what she used to be. To make a move against her, one must carefully consider. Did you not see that I did nothing, yet was sent away from the estate simply for watching a good show?"
"My young master said he will give you three more days. Within three days, Xiao Man must die!"
"I know what to do. Leave quickly." After the man in black departed, Aunt Lin collapsed onto the chair.
To take Xiao Man's life, how easy could it be?
Before, a little instigation would be enough to have Third Aunt and Xiao Xiang rush out to deal with Xiao Man. Yet, she had only been away from the estate for a little over ten days, and the estate had already undergone earth-shattering changes. Xiao Xiang and Third Aunt had both been brought under Xiao Man's control. However, this was also a good thing!
As long as someone could freely enter and exit the eldest young lady's courtyard, she would have an opportunity to act, without implicating herself.
Aunt Lin composed herself before going to see the fourth miss.
From childhood to adulthood, the fourth miss had never suffered such hardship. She finally understood that no matter how much Old Madam favored the fourth miss, as long as she was associated with Xiao Man, their mother and daughter would be doomed.
"Auntie, you're back." Upon seeing Aunt Lin return, the fourth miss's pale face broke into a smile. "How is my eldest sister?"
"Your eldest sister is doing well." Aunt Lin picked up the medicine from the table and fed the fourth miss spoonful by spoonful. "You must drink your medicine obediently so you can recover quickly."
The fourth miss drank the medicine obediently. Her already small face had become even thinner due to the hardship of recent days. However, the shrewdness that occasionally flashed in her large, round eyes was quite startling.
"Did Eldest Sister receive the items?"
"Our mother and daughter sincerely prayed for her. If she didn't accept them, wouldn't that be unreasonable?" Aunt Lin took out a handkerchief and wiped the fourth miss's mouth. "You should rest well these days. We must let your grandmother see that we, mother and daughter, have suffered significant grievances."
Mother and daughter exchanged a smile, their smiles full of scheming. If anyone saw them, they would doubt if such a smile was befitting a child.
Meanwhile, Madam Yan remained steadfast and inactive.
She knew that Aunt Lin had suffered such a great loss this time; it was impossible for her not to seek retribution. However, after waiting for several days and seeing no action from Aunt Lin, Madam Yan's heart began to waver.
"Mother, do you like my painting?" Xiao Ling held her brush and showed Madam Yan her painting of a mantis catching a cicada.
"Lin Wan Wan does have patience."
"If she didn't have patience, how could she compete with Mother in this estate?" Xiao Ling's voice was ethereal and pleasant. "News has come from the palace that Consort Xian, for some unknown reason, has developed a rash on her face. The Imperial Hospital is helpless. They have sent out word for us to find the Medicine King and request the Medicine King to enter the palace to treat Consort Xian."
"The Medicine King's whereabouts are elusive. How can he be found so easily?" Madam Yan was troubled.
Consort Xian was her paternal aunt and her trump card when dealing with the outside world. People in this estate, even if they did not show respect to the Minister of Rites, had to consider Consort Xian and the Tenth Prince in the palace.
"We must find a way to search. Daughter plans to take this opportunity to leave the estate and search for the Medicine King for Consort Xian," Xiao Ling's expression was very calm. In her opinion, it was just a rash; it would heal in time.
Yet, Consort Xian was making a fuss. With the Tenth Prince by her side, why should she emulate those new imperial consorts who relied on their looks to secure favor? However, for her, it was a good thing. Leaving the estate would allow her to do what she wanted.
Madam Yan, upon hearing this, nodded in agreement. Regardless of anything, they had to make Consort Xian and the Tenth Prince believe that they were doing their utmost for them.
"When you are out, be careful in all matters."
"Madam, there is news from Shuiyue Pavilion that the eldest young lady has had an accident."
Madam Yan and Xiao Ling's eyes lit up. "What happened?"
"It is said she is ill, very weak, and cannot even get out of bed. Today, she directly fell unconscious."
Madam Yan and Xiao Ling exchanged glances, seeing schadenfreude in each other's eyes.
Lin Wan Wan's methods were truly ruthless. These past two days, she hadn't set foot in Shuiyue Pavilion, and Xiao Man had already had an accident.
"Let's go and take a look."