Chapter 709 Tactics

Chapter 709: Schemes

Zou Pingping returned to the Zou household in a daze and broke down sobbing the moment she got home.

After crying, she knew she couldn’t let Zou Wan Shi find out about this, or else she would surely insist on marrying her off to some petty eighth-rank official.

Clutching her handkerchief, Zou Pingping wracked her brain for a way out of this predicament—and she actually came up with something!

Previously, she had been so obsessed with Yu Chongjie that she forgot to investigate how the young lady from that luxurious, palatial mansion fit for immortals had come to know her mother.

From the looks of it, that young lady seemed to have some hold over her mother—sending money, gifting her hairpins…

Sulking, she pursed her lips, and Zou Pingping suddenly thought of an idea.

Since that young lady had a hold over her mother, then… couldn’t she use that to her advantage?

……

"Mother, I’d like to visit Second Brother in the mountains."

Yu Mingzhu approached Jiao Shi.

After being stabbed by Wei Shuangyan, Yu Chongen’s wounds hadn’t fully healed, yet he defiantly insisted on visiting Wei Shuangyan in prison once. When he returned, he became much more withdrawn into himself and moved directly into a side room at White Horse Temple outside the city, saying he needed solitude.

Jiao Shi had visited Yu Chongen a few days prior and saw that his injuries had improved somewhat compared to when he was in the capital, though he had grown much thinner.

Jiao Shi’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she didn’t dare urge Yu Chongen to return home, fearing his condition might worsen if he came back to the capital.

Now that Yu Mingzhu wanted to visit Yu Chongen, Jiao Shi was naturally more than willing.

However, Jiao Shi happened to be occupied these days and couldn’t accompany Yu Mingzhu, so she had to let her go alone with maids and servants.

Yu Mingzhu said understandingly, "Mother, you needn’t fuss over me. I’ve been to White Horse Temple many times. It’ll be fine."

Jiao Shi sighed deeply and affectionately stroked Yu Mingzhu’s hair. "If only your brothers had your sense."

Yu Mingzhu shook her head in disagreement. "Mother, that’s hardly fair. Eldest Brother and Second Brother are in different circumstances than I am. If I were in their positions, I might not have handled things any better. Both brothers are among the capital’s most distinguished young nobles—who didn’t praise them before?"

As if offhandedly, Yu Mingzhu added, "Come to think of it, it seems like two years ago, the good fortune our household always enjoyed suddenly soured… Might someone be cursing our household?"

Her words seemed casual, but Jiao Shi’s heart clenched, reminding her of what Third Aunt Jiao had mentioned before.

A complicated emotion flickered in Jiao Shi’s eyes as she looked at Yu Mingzhu and followed her lead. "Two years ago… now that you mention it, it does seem that way. What happened two years ago?"

Yu Mingzhu also feigned difficulty remembering.

But the maid Xianglan, one of Jiao Shi’s maids, suddenly murmured, "Two years ago… if I remember correctly, wasn’t that around the time Princess Fusui and her family arrived in the capital?"

Yu Mingzhu gasped lightly. "Perhaps it’s just a coincidence. Princess Fusui was personally recognized by His Majesty as a woman of great fortune."

Xianglan whispered, "I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but I’ve heard that some people’s destinies can leech the fortune of others and turn it into their own blessings… I just think it’s strange—Princess Fusui has such good fortune, but ever since she came to the capital, our household… so many of our masters have been dogged by ill luck. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?"

Jiao Shi’s heart was in turmoil, and her face hardened. "Who gave you permission to gossip about the princess? Go out and receive ten strikes on your palms."

Xianglan knelt with a whimper and kowtowed. "Yes, Madam. I know I overstepped. But these coincidences have been weighing on my mind for so long—I couldn’t stay silent."

Jiao Shi was too vexed to hear more. "Enough! Go out and take twenty lashes!"

Xianglan's face flushed red, her eyes brimming with tears as she meekly responded, "Yes," and rose to receive the hand strikes.

"Alright, Mother, don't be angry with a maid," Yu Mingzhu gently soothed. "When I go to White Horse Temple, I’ll pray for a consecrated Bodhisattva statue to bring back and enshrine in our family’s household shrine. Surely our family’s luck won’t stay bad forever."

Jiao Shi sighed and said nothing more.

……

In a deserted corner of the estate, Xianglan had received ten strikes on each palm, her hands swollen high. After checking that no one was around, she finally accepted an ointment from Qi Huang.

"This is a gift from Miss Yu. Apply it well—it won’t leave scars," Qi Huang whispered. "Don’t worry, Miss Yu has already arranged a physician for your long-ailing father. The fifty taels needed for the medicine have also been covered by her."

Xianglan said gratefully, "Miss Yu is so kind to this lowly maid. I’d gladly give my life to repay her."

Qi Huang curled her lips slightly. "Miss Yu is so benevolent—why would she need your life? You’re the mistress’s personal maid; just take good care of her as usual. At most, put in a good word for Miss Yu now and then, and she’ll remember your kindness."

Xianglan readily agreed, thanking her profusely.

……

Yu Mingzhu, accompanied by Qi Huang and several servants, prepared to leave for White Horse Temple outside the city.

Yu Mingzhu was determined to go. Qi Huang had found a group of outlaws willing to take her job, but Yu Mingzhu intended to secretly observe whether they were truly capable—to avoid any mishaps later.

Just as Yu Mingzhu’s carriage exited the Duke of Xinguo’s estate, someone suddenly darted out from the side: "Is this Miss Yu’s carriage?!"

Both Yu Mingzhu and Qi Huang were startled. Yu Mingzhu lifted the curtain to see Zou Pingping clinging to the side of her carriage, blocking her path.

The coachman froze, not daring to act.

Yu Mingzhu frowned but before she could speak, Zou Pingping lowered her voice and hissed, "I already know about you and my mother… that matter! If you don’t want it exposed, arrange for me to meet the Young Master!"

Yu Mingzhu’s mind reeled with shock!

But seeing Zou Pingping’s forced calm—her eyes darting nervously—Yu Mingzhu instantly realized the girl was likely bluffing.

What a fool!

If Zou Pingping truly knew the secret between her and Zou Wan Shi, she wouldn’t be approaching her like this today!

Just one word—"sister"—would've been enough!

Yu Mingzhu’s gaze darkened, though she smiled faintly. "You jest, Third Miss Zou. What could I possibly have to hide with your mother?"

After a pause, she deliberately added, "Please don’t block my way. I’m going to White Horse Temple to offer incense, and I'm running late. If it were just me, it wouldn’t matter, but I’m also going to see my brother…"

With that, she signaled the servants to move Zou Pingping aside, lowered the curtain, and the carriage rolled away.

Zou Pingping’s eyes lit up, undeterred by the brush-off.

She believed she had deciphered Yu Mingzhu’s hidden meaning!

Yu Mingzhu said she was going to White Horse Temple to see her brother—didn’t that mean Young Master Yu Chongjie would also be there?

Zou Pingping was convinced she understood!

She hurried back to the Zou residence, spruced herself up, and told Zou Wan Shi she was going to White Horse Temple to pray: for her brother Zou Minglei’s swift recovery, for his smooth admission to Zhizhi Academy next month, and for her own successful marriage into the Duke of Xinguo’s household.

Zou Wan Shi had no suspicions and even gave Zou Pingping some silver for incense offerings, telling her to buy more incense for prayers.

Zou Pingping took the money and left the city cheerfully.

By this time, Yu Mingzhu's carriage was already nearing White Horse Temple.

She hadn’t lied to that love-struck fool.

She had indeed come to White Horse Temple to meet her brother—

just not her eldest brother, Yu Chongjie, but her second brother, Yu Chongen, who was recuperating in a secluded monastery cell in the temple’s rear courtyard.

Yu Mingzhu rented a side chamber in the pilgrims' lodging area of White Horse Temple. Within half an hour, Qi Huang, disguised as an unremarkable teenage boy, slipped out of the chamber and headed straight for the back hills.

Indeed, who would have thought that one of the hideouts for the fugitive outlaws on the run across the region was a hidden cave behind White Horse Temple?

—Yu Mingzhu had already decided how to test their skills.

Meanwhile, Yu Mingzhu went to find Yu Chongen and stayed with him in his room, writing scriptures together.

Yu Chongen said these funeral sutras were for the miscarried child in Wei Shuangyan’s womb and for Fang Ai, who had fallen to her death.

Yu Mingzhu’s eyes turned sorrowful. "...Second Brother, don’t worry. A few days ago, I secretly hired a monk to perform rites for that child. The child will surely be reborn into a good family."

Yu Chongen felt a pang of warmth.

He had been a little cold to Yu Mingzhu recently, but hearing her words now, he felt a flicker of warmth.

The brother and sister silently copied scriptures together in the room for a long time.

Until Qi Huang knocked on the door, saying it was getting late and asking if Yu Mingzhu wished to dine.

Yu Mingzhu knew this was the prearranged signal between her and Qi Huang. She set down her brush and looked at Yu Chongen. "Second Brother, want to grab a meal together?"

Yu Chongen nodded.

The siblings then ate the temple’s vegetarian fare provided by White Horse Temple.

After the meal, Yu Mingzhu chatted with Yu Chongen for a while before casually took her leave from his room and returning to the side chamber she had rented.

Once inside, Qi Huang carefully scanned the area before closing the door and murmured to Yu Mingzhu, "It’s done. I saw them drag Zou Pingping into the woods with my own eyes."

Yu Mingzhu was very pleased, her smirk widening. "...Good. Consider this a small gift for Zou Pingping. A woman like her, audacious enough to chase after my big brother—she must be desperate for men... After this, let’s see if she still has the face to hound him."

Qi Huang assented. "As for the other commission—the hit—I’ve also worked it out with them. Twenty thousand taels of silver, and it’ll be done within seven days."

Yu Mingzhu grew even more satisfied and reminded Qi Huang, "When you went to them earlier, there were no flaws in your disguise, right?"

Qi Huang nodded. "Don’t worry, Miss. I was very careful, posing as a young boy. Even if they investigate later, it won’t lead back to us."

Yu Mingzhu’s grin widened.

...

Zou Pingping lay there, racked with pain in the woods, her voice hoarse from crying, weakly staring at the dimming sky.

She couldn’t understand why.

She had only come to White Horse Temple to see the man she loved—yet she had encountered bandits who dragged her into the woods and did such things to her!

Zou Pingping was completely broken.

Those men did their deed, pulled up their pants, and ran off, leaving her alone in the woods, her clothes torn and her body a mess.

The sky grew darker, and the distant howls of wolves echoed from the surrounding forest.

And they were getting closer...

Zou Pingping, completely broken, staggered to her feet, holding her torn clothes together as she fled!

In life-or-death moments, one unleashes boundless potential. Zou Pingping didn’t know how long she had been running until she collapsed on a mountain trail.

"...Miss, are you alright?"

Exhausted and sprawled on the ground, she heard a voice addressing her.

The voice sounded familiar. She lifted her head, and through the tangled strands of her hair, she saw the man who had dismounted to check on her—who else could it be but Yu Chongjie, the man she’d been desperate to see?!

Zou Pingping was crushed!

Her most pitiful, humiliating state had been witnessed by Yu Chongjie!

Yu Chongjie saw the girl lying on the ground, rigid and shaking, her clothes in disarray, some parts torn—what had happened to her was all too clear.

His heart went out to her. He took off his cloak and draped it over the girl.

—Yu Chongjie clearly hadn’t recognized Zou Pingping yet, but she thought his kindness meant he recognized her. Overwhelmed, she struggled up from the ground and collapsed into his arms, sobbing and crying, "Why did you take so long?! Why did you take so long?!"

Yu Chongjie went rigid!

Wait, did they know each other?!

Yu Chongjie’s attendant gasped, recognizing Zou Pingping first.

He stepped closer and whispered urgently, "Young Master, this... this is Miss Zou..."

Yu Chongjie stiffened even more!

A shiver ran down his spine.

Though he wanted nothing to do with this Miss Zou any further, why did she have to be so unlucky as to suffer such a fate?!

And for some reason, Yu Chongjie had an inexplicable feeling that this incident was somehow connected to him!

He was tense all over.

Zou Pingping, already exhausted, passed out in Yu Chongjie’s arms after her outburst of tears.

Yu Chongjie was at a loss.

He had originally come to the White Horse Temple outside the city after his shift because his mother had mentioned that Yu Mingzhu was there and asked him to escort her back to the capital the next day.

On the way, he’d bumped into a colleague who delayed him with a lengthy conversation, which was why he was arriving so late.

But he never expected that, while riding up the mountain, a girl would come stumbling out from the side of the path and collapse—and that girl would turn out to be Zou Pingping!

What twisted fate was this?

Now that Zou Pingping had fainted, he couldn’t just abandon her, could he?

With a heavy sigh, Yu Chongjie wrapped her tightly in his cloak, mounted his horse, and rode up the mountain, intending to ask the maids accompanying his sister to help tend to her.

—When Yu Mingzhu saw Yu Chongjie carrying a woman wrapped in a cloak, she froze.

And when she recognized the face hidden beneath the cloak as Zou Pingping’s, she froze for a long while!