Chapter 17: Volume 1, Chapter 17: Does she look like a beggar?

"Qiyue, I see that your place is quite desolate. Are you short of hands? Would you like your eldest aunt to arrange some people for you?" Just then, Xu Shi spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qiyue replied indifferently, "No need."

As she spoke, Yun Qiyue did not beat around the bush and asked directly, "Zhao Mama came earlier to say that you, Eldest Aunt, had something to find me for. I wonder what it is?"

The moment Yun Qiyue mentioned this, Xu Shi felt filled with resentment.

She had sent someone to find Yun Qiyue, but she never expected that not only did she fail to summon Yun Qiyue, but she also lost her right-hand woman.

At the thought of this, Xu Shi was so angry she wanted to vomit blood, but she could only clench her fists and suppress her fury.

She gave Lin Mama a look, and Lin Mama understood, taking all the maidservants away.

Xu Shi looked at Sixue; her meaning was obvious—she did not want Sixue to stay here.

Sixue looked at Yun Qiyue, and seeing Yun Qiyue nod, Sixue returned inside Mingyue Building.

Once only Yun Qiyue was left in the courtyard, Xu Shi spoke, "I do indeed have something to find you for."

Yun Qiyue also looked at Xu Shi, waiting for her to continue, with no intention of interrupting.

Xu Shi: "What did you do to my guard yesterday? Why is he still lying in bed unable to get up?"

Mentioning Xu Ze, there was a trace of imperceptible worry in Xu Shi's eyes.

Yun Qiyue was not at all surprised that Xu Shi would mention the guard, as it was entirely within her expectations.

And this only further proved that there must be some shady business between Xu Shi and that guard.

And this shady business might become her greatest weapon to topple Xu Shi.

Putting away her thoughts, Yun Qiyue feigned innocence, "What could I have done to him? I only pricked his sleeping point; he should wake up within two hours."

Xu Shi: "But he is lying in bed, unable to move his whole body."

One could faintly sense excitement in Xu Shi's voice.

Last night, she went to see Xu Ze. Xu Ze had indeed woken up, but he was lying in bed like a cripple; apart from his eyes, he could not move any other part of his body.

If not for this, why would she have come to find Yun Qiyue today?

Hearing this, Yun Qiyue looked puzzled, "If he cannot move, why don't you, Eldest Aunt, invite a doctor to see him instead of coming to me?"

Hearing this, Xu Shi's expression stiffened.

How could she not have invited a doctor?

She had invited several, both the mansion doctor and those from outside, but they couldn't see anything at all. Their diagnosis was that there was nothing wrong with him—they were simply a bunch of quacks.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became!

Taking a deep breath, Xu Shi kept her emotions from fully showing and said to Yun Qiyue with a gentle face, "Qiyue, don't you have the guidance of an old immortal and know medical arts? Why don't you go and take a look?"

Even though Xu Shi felt in her heart that Xu Ze's inability to move was due to that needle from Yun Qiyue, Yun Qiyue had such an "it has nothing to do with me" attitude, and she had no evidence, so it was hard to tear off the mask.

Moreover, she was still counting on Yun Qiyue to make Xu Ze wake up.

Yun Qiyue nodded, and just as Xu Shi thought Yun Qiyue was about to agree, Yun Qiyue said, "I have indeed received guidance from an old immortal and know a little medicine, but..."

"But what?" Xu Shi asked eagerly.

Yun Qiyue curled her lips: "My medical consultations are very expensive."

Hearing this tone from Yun Qiyue, Xu Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

Money was easy to talk about.

Anything that could be solved with money was not a big deal.

Thus, Xu Shi asked, "How much silver do you want?"

Yun Qiyue held up one finger.

Xu Shi thought for a moment and nodded, "One hundred taels, that's fine."

It was only one hundred taels; she didn't care about that.

Yun Qiyue: "..." Does she look like a beggar?

"Ten thousand taels," Yun Qiyue said.

Xu Shi, who had been holding back her anger all morning, finally couldn't take it anymore, "Why don't you just go rob someone?"

Yun Qiyue: "Whether you want me to look or not is up to you." She hadn't forced Xu Shi to let her treat him.

As she spoke, Yun Qiyue didn't even look at Xu Shi's expression and turned to walk toward Mingyue Building.

Just before entering, Yun Qiyue curled her lips again, "By the way, a reminder to Eldest Aunt: what I want is ten thousand taels of gold."

Ten thousand taels of gold was one hundred thousand taels of silver.

She really wanted to see if Xu Shi was actually willing to part with those one hundred thousand taels.

"Bang—" With a sound, the door of Mingyue Building was closed right in front of Xu Shi.

Xu Shi's expression could no longer be maintained; it was twisted and ferocious, full of hatred, as if she wanted to tear Yun Qiyue apart alive.

Hearing the commotion, Lin Mama walked in.

"Madam, how did it go?"

Xu Shi twisted the handkerchief in her hand and said angrily, "Let's go back!"

After Xu Shi returned to her Yalan Courtyard, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

At this moment, a maidservant was just entering to serve tea and snacks, and Xu Shi casually threw the scalding teacup at her.

"Ah—"

The boiling tea splashed all over the maid's thigh, and she let out a scream in pain.

Xu Shi was annoyed by the noise and vented her anger, "What are you screaming for? Slap your own face!"

The maid had tears in her eyes and felt extremely aggrieved, but she dared not argue and resigned herself to slapping her own face.

Everyone in the mansion thought the Eldest Madam was benevolent, but only those in her courtyard knew that the Eldest Madam was actually a hypocrite, cruel to the core. Over the years in Yalan Courtyard, no one knew how many servants had quietly disappeared.

So, no matter how aggrieved the maid felt, she dared not go easy on herself.

Not until the maid's cheeks were red and swollen and Xu Shi heard commotion outside did she show mercy and let the maid leave.

After the maid left, Yun Yarou walked in.

At the doorway, Yun Yarou had seen the maid's swollen cheeks and wet skirt, but after entering, she didn't mention the maid at all.

"Mother, why are you so angry?" Yun Yarou asked.

Xu Shi shook her head, looking as if she didn't want to mention it.

Yun Yarou didn't ask further and just asked about her purpose for coming today, "Mother, have you thought of a way to deal with Yun Qiyue?"

Hearing her daughter mention Yun Qiyue, Xu Shi's eyes darkened.

She had originally thought about sparing her for the time being, but since she was so unappreciative, she might as well go all the way.

Thinking this, Xu Shi said, "Three days from now is the Princess's birthday banquet. Since the Princess invited you, you should take Yun Qiyue with you."

When the Princess held banquets, she most liked to invite young men and women; noble ladies like them were rarely on the invitation list.

This time, the ones invited from the Yun family were the two legitimate daughters, Yun Yarou and Yun Yayin.

Hearing that she had to take Yun Qiyue to the banquet, Yun Yarou frowned, "Mother, I..."

She didn't want to.

If she took Yun Qiyue in front of those noble ladies, wouldn't she be laughed to death?

Moreover, with so many people there, it would be difficult for her to find an opportunity to strike at Yun Qiyue.

Xu Shi waved her hand, stopping her daughter from continuing, "Just take her. When the time comes, you won't need to do anything; there are plenty of people who want her life..."

As she spoke, Xu Shi beckoned to Yun Yarou.

Yun Yarou walked over and leaned her ear in, "Listen to Mother, when the time comes, do it like this..." ===== CHAPTER 18 =====