Union

Chapter 114 Hibiscus Offline
Leaving aside how the Second Master and Prefect Zhang had such a pleasant conversation, we will not mention what kind of agreement they reached regarding the gold mine.

They said that by the time Yunying returned to the backyard to rest, the first watch gong had already sounded.

She took a bath and had Sui'er apply ointment to reduce swelling and bruising. After a night of this, when she got up the next day, the pain not only did not subside, but it became even more severe.

And listen to what Sui'er says, the affected area looks even more gruesome today than it did yesterday.

Her entire tailbone was swollen, and it was bluish-purple and blackish. Especially since her skin was so fair, it made her injury look even more gruesome. Just looking at it made one gasp in pain.

Upon hearing Sui'er's description, Yunying couldn't help but shrink back a few times.

She was in so much pain that she could barely stand up, but she forced herself to go to the bathroom to wash and change. When she came back, she was covered in a cold sweat from the pain.

Seeing this, Sui'er said, "This won't do, miss. I'll go and fetch a doctor to take a look at you. You might have broken a bone."

Yunying was also afraid of leaving any lingering problems, so she nodded and said, "Go, and come back quickly."

Sui'er responded and quickly ran out.

After Sui'er left, Liu'er stayed by Yunying's side to serve her.

Seeing Yunying lying on the chaise longue, occasionally gasping for breath, she said, "You should have called a doctor last night, but you wouldn't let me. Now look what happened! You endured it all night, and now we still have to call a doctor. Tell me, didn't you suffer for nothing?"

He added, "In the end, it's all Mu Jin's fault. Mu Jin looks so gentle and kind, but I never expected her to be such a ruthless person. The young lady's fall is definitely related to her. I really hope Lei Ting can quickly find evidence of Mu Jin's misdeeds and kick her out of the manor."

As Liu'er was rambling on, she suddenly heard a noise outside.

A maidservant shouted from outside: "Miss, something terrible has happened! Lei Ting has brought people to the backyard to arrest people. He has taken away Miss Mu Jin and Ru Zhu."

The room fell silent, and Liu'er quickly ran to the door and lifted the curtain.

"What did you say? Mu Jin and Ru Zhu have been taken away?"

The maid nodded vigorously, "They've all been taken away. Quite a few people are watching. Everyone's saying that Lei Ting must have found out that the incident of Miss falling yesterday was related to Mu Jin and her maid. They've been taken away for questioning. Miss Liu'er, would our young lady like to go and see? Our young lady is the victim. We must make Second Master severely punish that pair of mistress and maid to seek justice for our young lady."

Liu'er went inside and asked Yunying, "Miss, shall we go take a look?"

Liu'er was filled with excitement, her gaze towards Yunying was very eager.

Yunying knew that she wanted to see the excitement, and even more so, she wanted to see Mujin and Ruzhu get their just desserts. She wanted to see it too, but she was in so much pain that she could hardly walk.

Upon hearing this, Liu'er immediately said, "Miss, I'll carry you there."

"Never mind, I'll walk there myself. Let's just walk slowly."

"well."

After quickly tidying up, Yunying and Liu'er went out together.

As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, cold sweat broke out on Yunying's forehead again. Seeing this, Liu'er didn't wait for Yunying to resist and simply bent down and carried Yunying on her back.

Yunying laughed and said, "I bumped my tailbone, not injured my foot."

“No matter where you bumped into something, you’re injured. If you’re injured, you should move around less and rest more. Miss, let’s just join in the fun this time, and then we’ll stay home and recover. We can go out again when you’re healed.”

As they talked, they soon followed the flow of people to a courtyard.

The courtyard was quiet except for Lei Ting's voice.

Lei Ting pointed at a seven or eight-year-old child in the courtyard, "You instructed this child to buy tung oil for you and gave him ten copper coins as a running fee. Ru Zhu, do you admit it?"

Ruzhu naturally denied it. She knelt on the ground, tears and snot streaming down her face, repeatedly saying, "I'm innocent."

The seven or eight-year-old child was dressed in a patched-up thong. His face was dark, but his eyes were strikingly bright.

The child said, “Even though you’re wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. My eyes are the most reliable; I’ve never mistaken anyone I’ve met even once. Besides, you have a red mole behind your left ear, and you use a sachet with osmanthus scent—I remember all of that perfectly.”

Upon hearing this, Ruzhu instinctively reached out to cover the mole behind her left ear. She stopped abruptly as soon as she made the movement.

She has already confessed without being asked.

Lei Ting said coldly, "If you confess honestly, the manor might spare your life. Otherwise, well, you'll have to bear the consequences."

Lei Ting was always cold-faced and cold-voiced, like a cold-faced demon.

It can be said that among the four subordinates of the Second Master, Lei Ting had the highest deterrent effect.

When the maids and servants in the backyard saw him, they were as obedient and well-behaved as mice seeing a cat.

Now, threatened by Lei Ting with a dark expression, Ru Zhu's mental defenses completely collapsed.

She lay on the ground, crying, "I'll confess, I'll confess everything. It's our girl..."

"Ruzhu, how dare you talk nonsense! I'll beat your face to a pulp!"

Mu Jin pounced on Ru Zhu and slapped her twice across the face.

The slap was crisp and clear, delivered with considerable force. Two bright red handprints quickly appeared on her pearly cheek, and moments later, her face was swollen.

The maids and servants who were watching had never seen Mu Jin so fierce before.
Mu Jin's image to everyone has always been that of a cautious and gentle person. Although her words are sarcastic and subtly sarcastic, making it clear that she is not someone to be trifled with, the fact that she would directly beat her own maid and slap her face so hard that it swelled up with just two simple slaps is truly astonishing.

Mu Jin tried to continue her attack, but was restrained by two old women beside Lei Ting.

Unable to hit Ruzhu, Mujin started kicking. As expected, Ruzhu was kicked and fell heavily to the ground.

Having reached this point, Ruzhu felt only hatred towards the hibiscus, no longer any fear.

She quickly explained what Mu Jin had instructed her to do.

It is also said that Mu Jin did this because she was jealous and resentful after hearing that Yun Ying was pregnant, so she decided to teach Yun Ying a lesson and make her have an abortion.

The solution Mu Jin came up with was to pour tung oil on the path that Yun Ying usually walked.

As for how to buy tung oil discreetly, Mu Jin had already planned it out.

She gave the braised pork ribs dish, which was her lunch, to the old woman guarding the gate.

The old woman guarding the gate had frequent diarrhea and ran to the clean room several times that afternoon. She thought it was because her stomach couldn't handle the greasy food, but she never expected that the ribs had been poisoned.

Ruzhu secretly ran away while the old woman was using the restroom.

To avoid being recognized by the people in the manor, and even more so to prevent them from investigating if Yunying got into trouble, Ruzhu covered her face with a handkerchief and hired a child for ten copper coins to buy tung oil for her.

Unexpectedly, the child she had pulled out of the crowd was found by Lei Ting. Moreover, the child had the ability to remember faces and recognized her at a glance.

Ruzhu kept nagging, saying that she didn't want to do evil, but Mujin threatened her, saying that if she refused to listen to her, she would use the excuse that she was abusing her to have her driven out of the mansion, or even sell her to a dirty place.

Ruzhu was afraid and could only follow her orders. As a result, one wrong step led to another.

Ruzhu cried uncontrollably, snot and tears streaming down her face.

She was usually a pretty girl, and although she wasn't particularly beautiful, she was quite charming and attractive when she dressed up. But now, she looked like a madwoman, completely devoid of any dignity.

Looking at Mu Jin again, she still maintained that calm and composed demeanor.

As if the person Ruzhu was accusing and criticizing wasn't her, she stood by like an outsider who had nothing to do with it, occasionally glancing at Ruzhu with a fierce look in her eyes.

After Ruzhu finished speaking, Mujin said leisurely, "You, Ruzhu, I treated you like a sister, never letting you do even the slightest chores, and always sharing the best food with you. Turns out you're a traitor! Tell me, who instructed you to pin this on me? Tell me, were you acting on Yunying's orders? I knew it; this whole thing was orchestrated by Yunying. She was afraid I'd win over the Second Master, so she used this self-inflicted injury to hastily kick me out."

Yunying listened at the door, and when she heard this, she was so angry that she laughed.

Liu'er was even more eager to get to work, wishing she could tear Mu Jin's mouth apart.

The maids and servants nearby also erupted in a commotion.

They didn't think that Yunying had directed and acted in this play herself, because there was absolutely no need for it.

Everyone has eyes and can see clearly what the backyard is really like.

It can be said that Yunying has become the sole favorite, while Qiuning and Mujin are practically invisible.

Qiu Ning had some self-awareness and didn't try to get close to the Second Master, but Mu Jin's thoughts were written all over her face.

The goddess was willing, but the king was not.

That time, she tried to scheme against Yunying by riding in the same carriage with her and going out with the Second Master, but the Second Master chased her back.

This incident caused quite a stir for days, providing ample entertainment for the maids and servants in the back courtyard. The point of recounting this is that even though Mu Jin went out of her way to deliver it, the Second Master didn't even acknowledge her. Under such circumstances, did Yun Ying still have any reason to be wary of her, to plot against her, or to drive her out of the manor?
Isn't that like scratching an itch with six fingers, why add that extra step?

Mu Jin's accusations were completely unfounded, but the man's shamelessness and cunning were truly beyond everyone's expectations.

Leaving aside how indignant the maids and servants were, and how they marveled at Mu Jin's shamelessness, Lei Ting's mind was not on this at all at the moment.

His mind was completely bombarded by those five words—

Yunying is pregnant!!!

Is Yunying pregnant?

When did this happen?

Whose child is it?
It couldn't possibly belong to the Second Master, could it?

Lei Ting shook his hand, looking at Yun Ying in disbelief, then at Yun Ying's belly.

Yunying had already entered the courtyard and was standing not far from Leiting.

Lei Ting called out to her and asked, "Are you really pregnant?"

Pregnant?
Oh, she forgot about this matter that she hadn't explained.

But now is not the time to explain.

Yunying said, "Let's deal with Mujin and Ruzhu first, and I'll explain my pregnancy to you later."

"What? Pregnant? You're pregnant?"

The one who said this was Second Master, who had just walked to the courtyard gate.

After seeing off Prefect Zhang, Second Master heard from Sui Yun that Lei Ting had caught the mastermind behind Yun Ying's murder, and that Yun Ying was also watching the commotion. So he walked over along the road.

Who knew that I would arrive at such a coincidence? I had just reached the door when Yunying told me that she was pregnant.

The Second Master's face at this moment changed color from green to white, from white to red, from red to purple, and from purple to black, just like a spilled paint box, a colorful and spectacular sight.

When the maids and servants who were watching heard that the Second Master's voice came from behind them, they hurriedly made way and quickly bowed to him to greet him.

Then there was that clever one, eager to show off in front of the Second Master, who couldn't wait to say, "Miss Yunying is pregnant! Mujin was just jealous that she was carrying the Second Master's child, so she tried to use tung oil to make Yunying fall and miscarry. Fortunately, Miss Yunying is strong and the young master is healthy, so nothing serious happened."

Yunying felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

Where did this young master come from?
She really, really isn't pregnant!

The absurdity of this situation is comparable to what happened in Xiwangmu Niangniang Village.

But since the Second Master wasn't around, she just felt ashamed for a moment and then moved on.

But things are different now. The Second Master is right in front of her, and people are even saying that she's pregnant with his child...

Yunying was so hot she felt like she was about to spontaneously combust. All she wanted to do was find a crack in the ground, disappear inside, and never come out to see anyone again.

Yunying looked completely devastated, almost bursting into tears.

The second master was initially quite angry, but the distance from the door to Yunying's side was enough for him to calm down.

After calming down, seeing Yunying's ashamed, embarrassed, and tearful appearance, how could the Second Master not know that this was all a misunderstanding?

To be honest, when he learned that it was a misunderstanding and not true, Second Master was a little disappointed.

If Yunying is truly pregnant with his child...

That's wishful thinking; I dare not even dream of it!
Second Master put aside his regret and looked at the evasive Yunying with a slight smile in his eyes, "If it's a misunderstanding, why don't you explain it clearly?"

Upon hearing this, Yunying looked at the Second Master, her eyes filled with shimmering tears, and said with great shame, "I explained, but they wouldn't listen."

"Oh. So this whole disaster happened because of your 'pregnancy'?"

Yunying covered her forehead. "Yes."

Second Master smiled.

Yunying cried.

Mu Jin, who was standing near the two, had been staring at the Second Master ever since he appeared.

She hadn't missed a single word of the conversation between the Second Master and Yunying. But it was precisely because of this that Mu Jin became increasingly distraught.

Her voice trembled as she asked Yunying, "Are you really not pregnant?"

Yunying's expression changed instantly, "Whether I'm pregnant or not is not a reason for you to harm me."

"So, you're really not pregnant?"

The people around started buzzing again, "What do you mean she's not pregnant? Miss Yunying is clearly pregnant, and Miss Qiuning said it herself."

"Don't interrupt, be quiet, let's hear what Miss Yunying has to say."

Yunying said, "I'm not pregnant. What, have you realized you've gone to unnecessary trouble?"

"You really weren't pregnant, you weren't pregnant... Ah, Second Master, did you hear that? Yunying isn't pregnant, she's not carrying your child."

The Second Master didn't even bother to glance at Mu Jin, but Mu Jin smiled strangely again, "Since Yun Ying is not pregnant, there is no way I deliberately caused her to miscarry. This is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

Yunying sighed, never expecting that Mujin would be such a unreasonable and argumentative person.

Just now she vehemently denied that she had deliberately harmed her, but now that she knows she's not pregnant, she's changed her story and says it was all a misunderstanding.

When it comes to distorting the truth, Yunying only admires Mujin.

Yunying was too lazy to argue with her any further, so she looked at the Second Master and said, "The evidence against her for plotting against me is conclusive. Second Master, what do you think should be done with her?"

"Dispose of me? Why should I be disposed of? I didn't cause you to miscarry. It's your own incompetence that you couldn't conceive Second Master's son. If you're going to punish someone, Second Master, you should punish Yunying. She's a barren hen. You've favored her for so long, and she still can't give you a son or daughter. Second Master, just punish Yunying, and I'll give you a son, okay?"

Second Master looked at Lei Ting and said, "Take him away and punish him by making him dig a canal."

When the pearl was laid out on the ground, everyone was dumbfounded.

Mu Jin, however, continued to resist stubbornly. She jumped and hopped to avoid the old women's capture, and threw herself at the Second Master. "Second Master, what are you saying? I serve you, Second Master. How can you punish me to dig canals? Second Master, you are so cruel. You can't do this to me."

Mu Jin had a slender and petite figure, very graceful and charming. In the past, she always dressed in a fresh and sweet style, and just standing there, she could melt anyone's heart.

Today, Mu Jin was still dressed sweetly and charmingly. But her expression was ferocious, like that of a madwoman.

She was talking nonsense, spouting incoherent phrases, looking exactly like a mentally unstable woman who had suffered a shock.

The hibiscus ultimately fell into the hands of two old women.

Two old women grabbed her arms, trying to drag her out. Mu Jin burst into tears again, "Second Master, you're being unfair! I was also chosen by the manor to serve you, but you only have Yun Ying in your heart and eyes. You discard us like trash, ignoring us completely. Second Master, I also love you. Everything I've done is for you. How can you throw me away? Second Master, please have pity on me, please take me in."

Even until the very last moment when Mu Jin was led out of the courtyard, she was still shouting about the Second Master's unfairness and frantically crying out for her misplaced affection.

She begged the Second Master to look at her one more time, to let her serve him for one night, just one night would be enough, she would let the Second Master know that she was better than Yunying...

The two old women couldn't stand Mu Jin's yelling anymore, and they could tell that the Second Master's patience with Mu Jin had reached its limit.

Fearing they would be punished by their master for not doing their job well, they quickly grabbed a handkerchief used for wiping sweat and stuffed it into Mu Jin's mouth, shoving her mouth shut.

Mu Jin sobbed, and tears finally streamed down her face.

Qiu Ning stood at the courtyard gate and saw the whole scene.

At this moment, she didn't know if Mu Jin regretted what she had done.

But I suppose I regret it now.

Otherwise, why would she be crying?
Qiu Ning looked at Mu Jin, and it seemed as if she was looking at her future self.

Her eyes gradually became vacant, and she couldn't help but ask herself again: was it really meaningful to just hopelessly stay by the Second Master's side, desperately waiting for the favor that would never come?
She is still young, she has many choices. Is she really willing to spend her whole life wasting away in the Second Master's backyard, becoming a useless person who only knows how to eat, drink, and wait to die?
Qiu Ning touched her wildly pounding heart.

She doesn't want to!

Second update. 9000+ words today.
(End of this chapter)