Chapter 75: Your father’s soul is in my hands
“Who is this young lady…”
Madam Shen looked at Qi Huang doubtfully.
“Great-grandmother, she is a maidservant I hired when I was in Yongning Prefecture.”
Liu Yingyue quickly introduced herself, but then added: “Don’t underestimate her just because she’s a maidservant, she’s very capable.”
“Very capable?”
Madam Shen scrutinized Qi Huang again and said, “I believe it! If you can double the profits of that branch in Yongning Prefecture in a short period, you must have had the help of a noble person.”
Qi Huang was a little surprised. This old lady looked like she was on her last legs, but her mind was still so sharp. She really wasn’t simple.
“May I ask why you are asking me this question?”
Madam Shen then inquired.
“Miss Yue’er is unwilling to go through with a marriage of convenience, but she also doesn’t want to make things difficult for you, her great-grandmother. As her maidservant, it is naturally my duty to help her solve her problems. As long as we can find the person who sold the medicine, you will have the capital to confront Second Master Liu, won’t you?”
Qi Huang explained calmly and self-assuredly.
“Young lady, I appreciate your good intentions, but my grandson has always been tight-lipped about this matter. I’m afraid he wants to use this to control me, and it won’t be easy to figure things out.”
Madam Shen politely refused.
“Just tell me, elder. Whether it can be done is my business.”
Qi Huang remained unfazed.
“If that’s the case, then I’ll trouble you, young lady. My grandson will go to buy me medicine the day after tomorrow.”
Madam Shen finally agreed, giving the impression of “too kind to refuse.”
Qi Huang didn’t say anything else. For some reason, she felt something was wrong.
Liu Yingyue chatted with her great-grandmother for a while longer before standing up to leave.
Qi Huang followed her out the door. Her peripheral vision caught sight of Madam Shen’s lips curling into a faint smile, her expression unreadable. Qi Huang wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.
Liu Yingyue fell completely silent, feeling somewhat disappointed by her great-grandmother’s behavior and dwelling on it.
The more Qi Huang thought about it, the more suspicious she became. She unleashed her spiritual sense, quickly returning to Madam Shen’s room to monitor her.
“Old Ancestor, just as you predicted, Ninth Miss has indeed brought back a capable person.”
At this moment, the maidservant Xiaoju said with admiration to Madam Shen.
“Yes, Yue’er is not foolish. She knew that her return this time would not be smooth, so if she really had a capable person by her side, it’s likely she would bring them back. This is my only hope.”
Madam Shen sighed.
“It’s just that she seems so young.”
Xiaoju said worriedly.
“Child, you can’t judge a book by its cover. The fact that they arrived safely at the Liu Family after losing all their guards, I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
Madam Shen made her deduction.
“What Old Ancestor says is true. As long as she can find the person selling the medicine, you won’t have to curry favor with Second Master anymore.”
Xiaoju flattered her.
…
“So it’s true!”
Qi Huang’s doubts were instantly dispelled. She felt like she had been used. As it turned out, a woman’s intuition was indeed accurate, even if it was acquired rather than innate.
‘What a shrewd old lady! Pretending to be pitiful just now, clearly to show me.’
Qi Huang gritted her teeth in anger. She hadn’t expected to become the target of someone’s scheme before she even appeared. It seemed that the rumors about the Old Ancestor of the Liu Family were not exaggerated at all. Even in her current near-death state, she could still control the overall situation.
‘Fine, if you use me once, I’ll have no psychological burden when I use you.’
Qi Huang clenched her teeth, a cold smile on her face. The “using” she spoke of naturally meant using the old lady to lure Liu Biao into action again, at which point they would be caught red-handed, and she wouldn’t be afraid of him denying it. This was her entire plan.
Of course, before that, Qi Huang had to figure out the origin of that medicine. Otherwise, the Old Ancestor of the Liu Family would absolutely not go against Liu Biao just to save her own life.
Liu Yingyue changed into mourning clothes and began to keep vigil. Qi Huang could only stay by her side, never leaving.
In the evening, Qi Huang ordered the coffin to be opened and retrieved the talisman paper. By then, the yin energy on Old Master Liu’s body had completely dissipated.
“Eldest Brother, should we notify my mother about Father’s passing?”
At this moment, a middle-aged man in his thirties cautiously asked. He was Liu Yingmei, Liu Yingyue’s fifth elder brother, and the first child born to the second wife of Old Master Liu.
“Notify what? Your mother is promiscuous and shamelessly betrayed my father. Does such a shameless woman have the right to enter the Liu Family again?”
Liu Yingliang cursed vehemently.
“Even so, she was married to Father…”
Liu Yingmei explained weakly.
“Who was married to her? Father always said that that slut had nothing to do with him when he was alive. Don’t flatter your mother.”
Liu Yingliang continued to curse.
Liu Yingmei mumbled and dared not say anything more. Because of his mother, he and his three younger brothers and sister were treated with coldness at home, their status no different from that of servants.
Qi Huang watched in astonishment, becoming curious, so she found an opportunity to talk to Liu Yingyue alone.
“After my father’s first wife passed away, he married his second wife, Madam Wang. Perhaps out of guilt towards his first wife, he poured all his love onto Madam Wang. Not only did he dote on her at home, but he often took her with him when he went out to do business.”
Liu Yingyue began to speak slowly, her voice trembling slightly.
“He took her with him on business trips? He really valued her.”
Qi Huang exclaimed in amazement.
“Yes, but unfortunately, he misjudged her. During an encounter with foreign merchants, Madam Wang not only took a fancy to the business but also to the man. So she abandoned him and their four children and ran off with the other man.”
Liu Yingyue sighed.
“No wonder your eldest brother was so furious. Anyone would find such a thing hard to accept.”
Qi Huang pouted disdainfully.
“Yes, because of her, my fifth brother and his four siblings are looked down upon not only at home but also throughout the entire Liu clan. So they have always lived miserably.”
Liu Yingyue’s face showed a hint of sympathy. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t experienced it herself, that her opinion of Madam Wang was not good, but it didn’t affect her feelings towards her siblings.
“So after Madam Wang ran away, your father married your mother?”
Qi Huang confirmed.
“Yes, my mother is my father’s third wife.”
Liu Yingyue affirmed.
“Why always ‘wife’? Did your father not take concubines?”
Qi Huang asked curiously. Since entering the Liu Family, she hadn’t seen any concubines of Old Master Liu appear.
“No, I once asked my father. He said that he had traveled all over the country and seen too many men who couldn’t find wives. Since he already had a wife, why should he compete with those unfortunate people? One should have compassion!”
Liu Yingyue explained.
“Uncle’s character is truly admirable. I think he should be the Emperor.”
Qi Huang was suddenly filled with respect. Compared to him, the insatiable emperor in the palace was simply unbearable to look at.
“Don’t talk nonsense. This is right under the Emperor’s nose.”
Liu Yingyue quickly made a shushing gesture.
A while later, Second Master Liu returned, accompanied by the “sorcerer” he had newly hired.
This “sorcerer” was surnamed Xu. He was fair-skinned, beardless, tall and thin, and looked gentle and refined. However, his abilities were much stronger than the previous imposter. He was a genuine cultivator in the Guiyi Realm.
Qi Huang was a little surprised that Liu Biao could actually persuade a Guiyi Realm cultivator to condescend to perform a ritual. He really had some connections.
Nothing happened that day. The next morning, Liu Yingyue suddenly received a letter delivered by a servant, saying that it was delivered to the manor by a stranger.
Liu Yingyue examined the envelope and found no signature. Her pretty face immediately showed confusion, and she didn’t know whether to open it.
‘What if the other party has something urgent?’
After much hesitation, Liu Yingyue finally opened the letter. She glanced at it quickly, her beautiful eyes widening in horror. Then she immediately sought help from Qi Huang beside her.
“What’s wrong?”
Qi Huang took it over doubtfully and her expression also changed. The letter was hastily written with a few dozen words, but the content was terrifying: “Miss Liu, your father’s soul is in my hands. If you want him to live, come alone to the ruined temple in the north of the city tonight. Time waits for no one!”
This was the content of the letter.
