Chapter 26: Volume One, Chapter 26 Inserting Our Own People Inside

Volume One, Chapter 26 Inserting Our Own People Inside

He Huai, without looking at what was drawn on the blueprint, shoved it into his bosom, stood up and said, "I'll go right now."

Jing Chu rolled his eyes and said, "I'll go with you."

Rong Luoge did not stop him; if she could really use He Huai and Jing Chu to establish a connection with the Zhenxing Escort Bureau, it would mean an additional stable, safe source of income for her, which is a good thing.

Rong Luoge changed into men's clothing, put on a hat, and walked straight out. This residence was still a bit small; she planned to buy a larger one in a remote area. That way, even if people from the Zhen Guo Gong Fu wanted to trouble her, they would have to find her first.

Cang Yun went to the tooth shop today to look for the tooth lady to buy a person, but unexpectedly ran into Ming Cui halfway. The two faced each other; Cang Yun tried to ignore her, but Ming Cui blocked his path.

Cang Yun saw the angry, malicious look in Ming Cui's eyes, frowned, recalled that now they no longer had to live under the Guo Gong Fu's gaze, and straightened his back, shouting, "Move aside!"

Ming Cui's return to the Guo Gong Fu was not easy; she was driven back by the eldest miss, failed to accomplish anything the Duchess of the State ordered, and upon returning to the Guo Gong Fu she didn't even see the Duchess of the State before being demoted to a lowly maid.

Before, even if she wasn't the first‑rank maid before the Duchess of the State, she was at least second‑rank. Later, after going to the eldest miss's side, she lived a good life and never did such rough work, so her fingers never developed calluses. Now, seeing Cang Yun more delicate and beautiful than before, the anger naturally boiled over.

"Cang Yun, you're so smug now; you've been hoping I'd be driven away, haven't you?" Ming Cui gritted her teeth, her gloomy expression impossible to hide.

Cang Yun had always been kind‑hearted, but hearing that, he could no longer hold back. Looking at Ming Cui, he said, "Do you really not know where you're wrong? You're supposed to serve the eldest miss, yet you betray her. Someone who betrays their master should be killed on the spot. It's the eldest miss's kindness that lets you come and go as you please. You're suffering now; shouldn't you blame the master who abandoned you? You hate me, you hate the eldest miss—can you truly hate them? Should the eldest miss just let you betray and scheme? Ming Cui, you're just a maid; where does your audacity come from to think like that?"

Ming Cui's anger flared at his words: "When I first went to the eldest miss's side, didn't she know the Duchess of the State's wishes? If the eldest miss truly had ability, she should have refused the Duchess outright then. She didn't dare to refuse, and later took out her anger on me. Just because I'm a servant, does that give her the right to trample me?"

Cang Yun, tongue‑tied, knew Ming Cui's words were unreasonable, but for a moment didn't know how to retort. In a fit of anger he shoved her to the ground, straddled her waist and slapped her hard twice, shouting, "You're truly despicable and shameless, daring to speak to the eldest miss like that—watch me kill you!"

Ming Cui, already seething, immediately fought Cang Yun. Cang Yun, raised on a farm, had been doing labor since childhood, so his strength naturally surpassed Ming Cui's. In no time he pinned her down, beating her while saying, "If I hear those words again, I'll beat you each time you appear. A dog that betrays its master should be sold off before it becomes obedient."

Within moments Ming Cui's face swelled, her hair became disheveled, a large bruise darkened her eye, and hearing Cang Yun's words she covered her face and began to sob.

Cang Yun: …

If you can't beat me, just cry—useless thing!

Back then she followed the eldest miss back to the Guo Gong Fu; Ming Cui bullied her in secret. She didn't dare to fight back, but she never cried even once!

Cang Yun stood up, straightened his clothes, spat at Ming Cui, and only then stepped into the tooth shop.

Ming Cui, watching Cang Yun enter the tooth shop, could no longer cry; she scrambled up, rolled her eyes, and hurried back to the Guo Gong Fu.

With her face covered in injuries, Ming Cui poured out a long lament to the Duchess of the State, and finally mentioned Cang Yun's visit to the tooth shop: "Madam, it must be that the eldest miss wants to buy a servant, otherwise why would Cang Yun go to the tooth shop? This is a perfect chance to plant an informant."

Cang Yun, of course, was unwilling to remain a lowly maid; once an opportunity arose, he would climb up.

Chu Ke, hearing this, felt his recent misfortunes ease a little, and asked, "Really?"

"I would never dare to lie to the Duchess of the State. Look, I was beaten by Cang Yun all over; since I started serving the eldest miss alone, my boldness has grown. If this continues, the eldest miss might become increasingly estranged from the household under her influence." Ming Cui now still fears the eldest miss and dares not speak ill of her, but Cang Yun has no such reservations.

Chu Ke nodded at Ming Cui, "You handled this well; go down for now."

Ming Cui was stunned—she was being dismissed like that?

But she dared not show displeasure before the Duchess of the State, so she forced a smile and retreated, and once she passed the main courtyard gate her whole face darkened, the scars becoming even more terrifying.

Chu Ke didn't bother caring what a little maid thought; she saw a genuine opportunity. She summoned Ning, gave a few instructions, and Ning nodded, whispering, "This is easy to arrange. The tooth shop often does business with our estate, so planting a person isn't difficult. Old servant will handle it right away."

"Go, quietly, and don't alert anyone," Chu Ke reminded.

Since Rong Lang and Rong Dai siblings moved in, the estate has never been at peace. Adding to that, the eldest son Rong Yan broke his leg, so she has been especially attentive, fearing a lasting disability. She's been busy day after day, truly unable to attend to Rong Luoge's matters.

Now that there's such a good chance, we'll first slip someone in secretly.

Ning nodded quickly, "Madam, rest assured. Should we also use this chance to place a few people in the western courtyard?"

Chu Ke winced at the thought of the Rong Lang siblings, "That little harlot is watching closely—how can we insert someone?"

"There's a group of elderly in the estate who have reached an age to retire from duties and return home; we need to fill their spots, and there are two openings in the western courtyard," Ning whispered. "Let them choose themselves, but as long as the chosen ones are the ones you select, it's fine; whichever they pick will still be your people."

Chu Ke's eyes flashed; she understood Ning's meaning—it was to replace all the people sent from the tooth shop with her own, so whatever the Rong Dai siblings pick will still be her people.

That's a good idea; she's been so flustered by her eldest son's situation that she's lost her composure.

"Do it that way—make sure to pick a few who can keep their composure."

"Yes, old servant will select people from Jia Sheng Zi Li. Their service contracts are all in the Duchess of the State's hands; they wouldn't dare betray her. Rest assured." Ning, accustomed to these tasks, thought everything through meticulously.

Chu Ke let out a long sigh; if this succeeds, the Rong Lang siblings won't be able to stir up trouble in the estate any longer.