Union

Chapter 8 Going to See Someone

According to the information Jin Kui gathered, although this third young lady was beautiful, she was really spoiled and willful, and no ordinary person dared to mess with her.

“I heard it from someone, just someone else, that the Third Miss went to the river to release lanterns during the Ghost Festival last year, and somehow she fell into the water. It had just rained heavily, the river was swift, and the place where the Third Miss was was in was remote and the lights were dim. If it weren’t for the Second Master of the Rongguo Mansion hearing her cries and rushing over to save her, the Third Miss might have lost her life.”

Because he saved the third daughter, the two became intimate, and given their similar social standing, the marriage was quickly arranged. By the end of the year, they were married, which was only about six months ago.

“Previously, Mama Liu said that it was because the Third Miss was frail that she refused to go to her husband’s post. But last night I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk and overheard the maids gossiping by the wall. It seemed that the Third Miss had always disagreed with the marriage, but the Marquis’s wife and husband forced her to marry into the family.”

Seeing that Yunying had no idea of ​​the seriousness of the problem, Jin Kui became even more worried. She couldn't help but pat Yunying and said, "Third Miss was forced by her parents to marry the young master, so she must be resentful. I doubt she'll live a good life with him. The young master is also a favored son of heaven; why would he rush to please the young lady? This couple is probably at odds. The fact that the young master hasn't punished you since you were sent there is already a sign of his good temper. Expecting him to favor you is impossible."

She heard that her son-in-law had already set off for his new post. If they had gone with him, they might have developed a relationship along the way and gained his favor. Now, it was already a stroke of luck that they weren't sent back by the original authorities.

Jin Kui sighed deeply, and Yun Ying's face also showed worry upon hearing this—in fact, she wasn't very worried, after all, she was still daydreaming about taking the opportunity to escape.

The two sat facing each other, deep in thought for a while. Then Yunying changed the subject and asked, "What happened yesterday? Why did Xiangling come too? Did she take Xianglan's place?"

Yunying sighed and said, "She looks terribly timid and cowardly. Can sending her to the Prince's mansion save her life?"

"Instead of worrying about her, you should worry about yourself first." Jin Kui gave a meaningful look. "Yesterday, Xiangling was standing right behind you. When Liu Mama was choosing people to send to the Prince's Mansion, you stepped forward, and Xiangling stepped forward too."

Seeing Yunying frowning and looking incredulous, Jin Kui continued with her bombshell, "Yesterday, when Xianglan and Chen Ping's affair was exposed, Xiangling immediately went to see Liu Mama without telling anyone. We don't know what she said to Liu Mama, but after that, she took Xianglan's place."

Jin Kui chuckled, "You didn't expect that, did you? Actually, I'm not too surprised. Few of those who have survived on the estate until now are simple-minded. No matter how weak and easily bullied Xiang Ling may seem, in all these years on the estate, have you ever seen anyone take advantage of her? She's very shrewd."

Yunying opened her eyes wide in shock, looking as if she had heard a fairy tale.

Seeing this, Jin Kui couldn't help but continue to advise her, "In the future, if you encounter such a pure and harmless 'little white rabbit,' you must stay far away from her. Such a person may seem easy to deceive, but if she really gets serious, she can take your life."

After a long silence, Yunying sighed, "I understand. What about Wanbi?" Wanbi recognized Chen Mama as her godmother, and both Chen Mama and Chen Ping were imprisoned awaiting their fate. Wasn't Wanbi implicated?

"What did she get involved in? She just misjudged people and didn't see through Chen's mother and Chen Ping's true nature..."

Yunying's worldview was once again shaken.

This time, she remained silent for a long, long time before finally letting out a long breath under Jin Kui's gaze and saying, "I understand..."

This is just a girl from a village, yet she has so much scheming and so many tricks up her sleeve. Now that she's left the village and encountered many more people, she should be even more careful and cautious in the future. At the very least, she must save her life.

The two chatted, and time flew by. Before they even realized it, Cailian walked in with a smile and said, "Ladies, it's time to pay your respects to Madam."

Yunying and Jinkui immediately stopped talking, quickly got up and tidied themselves up, then followed the little maid out the door.

Qiu Ning was already waiting in the courtyard. When she saw Yun Ying and Jin Kui coming over together, she chuckled and said, "If I had known that the two of you were talking together, I would have gone over to join in the fun."

Jin Kui retorted, "Aren't you closest to Xiang Ling? She lives in the same courtyard now. If you're bored, why don't you go and talk to her?"

Qiu Ning smiled upon hearing this, but did not reply.

She used to be closest to Xiangling, and out of consideration for Xiangling's naivety and timidity, she was willing to take care of her a bit. But ever since Xiangling secretly went to see Granny Liu, she knew she had been blinded and had misjudged her. Xiangling wasn't a clueless girl; on the contrary, she was quite decisive and bold. That girl harbored a fierce tiger within her, and she dared not get close to her again, lest she be devoured without even realizing it.

Before the other girls arrived, Jin Kui tried to get information out of Cai Lian. From Cai Lian, she learned that the Third Miss had also returned from her husband's family and was currently in the Lady of the Marquis's room talking with her.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ning pursed her lips, and her entire being visibly tense up.

She instinctively looked at Yunying, only to see Yunying looking completely unconcerned.

She couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "Aren't you nervous, sister?"

Not too early, not too late, the Third Miss just happened to return to her parents' home today, at this time, to talk with the Lady of the Marquis. Her real purpose is obvious to anyone with a brain.

The thought of this being the future matriarch made Qiu Ning tense up, as if she were about to fight a tough battle.

Seeing Qiu Ning's tense expression, Yun Ying gently said, "It's alright, I'm not too nervous..." As if she felt that this was too rigid, she added, "It is my blessing to serve the Third Miss, but it doesn't matter if I can't. I can wait for the next opportunity."

Now that Chen's mother and Chen Ping have been dealt with, even if she is returned to the village, there's nothing to worry about.

Upon closer reflection, returning to the estate now would be the best course of action. It would give her ample time to prepare for her escape and to think more clearly about her future path.

Of course, having come this far, returning to the estate would be difficult. After all, as she had just said, both the Lady of the Marquis and the Third Miss had to give Liu Mama some face. The person Liu Mama personally selected would not have been sent back unless there were obvious flaws.

Lost in thought, I noticed that all the young ladies had arrived in the courtyard.

The group followed Cailian out.

After walking for a short distance, we were led by a nanny in a corridor.

The old woman's face was covered in wrinkles, and her hair was neatly combed, not a single strand out of place. She looked very serious, squinted at the beautiful girls behind her, and said coldly, "Come on, all of you. Don't look around on the way. Watch your step, or you'll fall and hurt yourself."

Everyone seemed to have been given a rude awakening... but they all obediently lowered their heads and dared not look around anymore.

After passing through two corridors and three archways, the surrounding scenery became increasingly stunning. More and more maids and servants came and went along the way, but instead of being noisy, the surroundings became quieter and quieter.

We're almost at the Lady of the Marquis's residence...

Thinking this, Yunying couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief. But then they walked for another half an incense stick's time before stopping outside a courtyard.

The old woman greeted the gatekeeper, while Yunying and the others discreetly picked up handkerchiefs and began wiping the sweat from their faces and heads.

It's almost June, and the weather is unbearably hot. Although it's still early and the air is somewhat cool, they've walked for a full hour, their legs are about to give out, and their undershirts are soaked with sweat...

While they were lost in thought, the old woman who had led the way earlier had already instructed them to go inside with the gatekeeper.

Everyone quickly bowed and then obediently followed the gatekeeper into the Lady of the Marquis's courtyard.

(End of this chapter)