Chapter 5: Do Not Think You Will Return Alive

In the Jun Manor, within the Cuiyu Courtyard, rare flowers and exotic plants competed in beauty, forming clusters of brilliant, multicolored splendor.

A gentle breeze brushed past, causing the flowers to sway lightly and release waves of intoxicating fragrance.

Amidst such scenery, the servants were each busy with their tasks, having no time to admire it.

In this large courtyard, inside one of the luxuriously furnished rooms, a magnificent carpet covered the floor, silk curtains hung just so, and through the bright, wide window wafted waves of floral scent.

In the very center of the room stood an ice sculpture, emitting wisps of cool air. "It is only June this year, yet already somewhat hot," the First Lady thought.

Two little maids stood in the room, half-asleep, fanning a noble lady dressed in splendid attire with a red hairpin, who was leisurely sipping tea.

Indeed, this woman was Wu, the mistress of the Jun household.

She wore a purple-red long skirt, her expression gentle, seated before an exquisite red sandalwood table.

Her little finger curled slightly as she moved the lid of her delicate teacup again and again; she blew lightly on the tea, took a small sip, pressed her lips together slightly, closed her eyes, seeming to enjoy it all immensely.

The precious pearl hairpins on her head swayed gently with her movements, emitting a crisp sound.

This tea was the new tea sent yesterday by the Prime Minister's residence; it was the finest Mingqian Longjing. According to the messenger, the Emperor had bestowed three liang upon the Prime Minister.

As soon as the Prime Minister returned home, he bestowed one liang upon Zhou Zhou Yiniang; the Prime Minister's residence's Old Lady had sent only one liang.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang of the Prime Minister's residence was Wu's younger sister. The Prime Minister's wife was frail and ill, having been bedridden for over a year.

Relying on her consummate skills and her impressive figure, Zhou Zhou Yiniang was extremely favored and had managed the Prime Minister's household affairs in recent years.

Servants in the Prime Minister's residence whispered privately: once the First Lady passes, the extremely favored Zhou Zhou Yiniang will most likely be elevated to the main wife position.

Thus, this Zhou Zhou Yiniang held a formidable status in the Prime Minister's residence and was known for her arrogance.

"Truly worthy of being her sister; whatever rare good thing she obtained, she eagerly sent it to her elder sister."

Thinking of this, the First Lady felt secretly pleased; relying on her sister's methods, that short-lived ghost in the Prime Minister's residence probably would not live long.

Once her sister assumed the position of Prime Minister's main wife, among all women in the world, aside from those few in the palace, who could compare to her?

Thinking of this, her grip on the teacup tightened, and a flash of indignation crossed her face:

"Why is the Prime Minister's wife her younger sister and not herself?"

At this moment, the maid Qingyu rushed in, stepped forward a few paces, covered her mouth, and bent down to whisper something to the First Lady.

Only the sound of a sharp "Crash!" was heard as the First Lady violently hurled the teacup in her hand, shattering the exquisite jade cup into pieces on the floor.

"You little slut, do not even think of returning alive!" the First Lady ground out through clenched teeth.

Tea splashed onto the maid fanning nearby; the maid startled with a shiver, and the First Lady backhanded the maid across the face:

"Blind thing, get out quickly!"

The maid lowered her head, daring not to cry out, covered her swollen face with one hand, and hurriedly retreated.

The First Lady's fierce expression was as terrifying and horrifying as a demon's, making one's hair stand on end; where was even a trace of the gentleness and virtue she showed in public?

Recently, news regarding the Second Young Lady, frequently mentioned by the Old Lady, had reached the First Lady's ears.

She realized she could not let matters develop unchecked; two days prior, she had dispatched Ah Fang to the manor, and by the reckoning of time, she should be returning soon.

As soon as Xiang Xiang Junzheng left the Old Lady's courtyard, he pondered all the way, walking toward the study.

Fang Fang Mengru had left behind a daughter under six years old before passing away; Wu was elevated to main wife for two reasons: first, she had borne the eldest son, and second, her gentle and magnanimous nature meant she would surely treat his children well.

He felt he had indeed not misjudged; Wu Wu Xiuqin managed the household in perfect order.

Thinking of this, Xiang Xiang Junzheng felt a bit more satisfaction toward the First Lady.

The second daughter had once been raised by his own hands; unfortunately, her mother passed away early. Perhaps she had been traumatized, spending her days doing nothing but causing trouble, becoming increasingly hopeless, and eventually becoming so vicious as to beat her legitimate mother and attempt to kill her elder sister.

"Forget it, let us bring her back to the manor for now,"

Presumably, her temperament had mellowed during these years at the manor. Besides, the family's offspring were few.

Counting Jun Jun Yiyi, there were only three daughters and one son in the manor.

The eldest son, Jun Chengcai, was already over sixteen; the eldest daughter, Jun Jun Yiyi, was under fifteen. The brother and sister were born to Wu when she was still a concubine.

The third daughter, Jun Jun Shuyan, was born to Zhou Zhou Yiniang and was ten years old this year. Zhou Zhou Yiniang originally had a son, but he drowned in a pond at the age of four.

The mother of the second daughter, Jun Zijing, Fang Fang Mengru, had suffered complications during Jun Zijing's birth, damaging her health. Six years later, she conceived again, but who would have thought she was devoid of fortune? She suffered a miscarriage, resulting in the death of both mother and child.

To this day, no concubine in the manor has conceived, so Jun Chengcai became Xiang Xiang Junzheng's only son.

Having made up his mind, Xiang Xiang Junzheng stood up and walked toward the Cuiyun Courtyard.

The First Lady came forward to greet him, gently fanning Xiang Xiang Junzheng, and asked softly:

"Why has my lord come over?" while instructing a maid to serve tea.

"I came to see you."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng sat beside the table with furrowed brows; he felt a slight guilt regarding Wu about the matter he was about to raise.

"My lord, is something troubling you?"

The First Lady put down the fan, massaged Xiang Xiang Junzheng's shoulders, and asked softly.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng raised his hand and patted the First Lady's hand in a comforting manner, saying:

"Mother has been mentioning the second daughter frequently lately. Today she told me she wishes to bring her back to the manor. I thought..."

The First Lady naturally knew Xiang Xiang Junzheng's intention; otherwise, he would not have come to the Cuiyu Courtyard at this time.

Since she must go to fetch her, she naturally had to display her thoughtfulness and magnanimity.

"The Second Young Lady has been at the manor for so many years; she must have suffered much hardship. She should have been brought back long ago."

"My lord, rest assured. I will go arrange it immediately and surely bring the Second Young Lady back."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng nodded:

"You are the one I trust most. Do not overexert yourself."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng felt even more satisfaction toward Wu. He did not stay to dine with the First Lady but stood up and left.

This action suited the First Lady perfectly; she had more important matters to attend to.

Once Xiang Xiang Junzheng had gone far away, the First Lady's face twisted into a hideous grimace, and she overturned the cup on the table onto the floor.

"You little wretch!"

The Lady spat again:

"Damn old thing! About to enter the grave yet still meddling in everything!"

"Go fetch her; I fear you'll bring back a corpse!"

The Lady's eyes shot forth a venomous, cold light like a viper's, her face twisted in a grim sneer.

The Lady forced down her inner rage, ordering maids to clean the room while instructing Qingyu to check if Afang had returned.

The Jun Manor was indeed far from the estate; a carriage required a full day to arrive. Afang hurried all the way and finally entered the manor through the back gate before nightfall.

Afang was covered in dust from the journey; disregarding her exhaustion, she went straight to report to the Lady without time to wash or groom.

As soon as Afang entered the room, she dismissed the maids and old women serving inside.

Qingyu gently closed the door and stood guard at the entrance.

"Greetings, Lady," Afang said, bowing low.

"How did the matter go?" the Lady asked eagerly.

"Lady, rest assured; the matter is settled."

She then recounted to the Lady, treating them as jokes, all the ways Liu Ma had humiliated Jun Zijing.

Whenever the Lady received news of Jun Zijing, she would inquire; the worse Jun Zijing suffered, the happier the Lady became.

Today was no exception; after the two of them laughed once more over how Jun Zijing had been humiliated, Afang handed over a ledger.

The Lady took it, flipped through the pages, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face before she waved her hand, dismissing Afang to return.

The Lady was in high spirits, sipping tea sip by sip, as a poisonous scheme sprang from her heart...