Chapter 190: Everything is Ready

Chapter 190: Everything is Ready

Mi Yuan didn’t even bother opening his eyes and said casually, "Indeed."

Yun Zheng’s eyes lit up, his resolve to become a servant boy stronger than ever.

He cleared his throat, straightened his clothes, and said hesitantly, "Commander Mi, I have a rough idea."

Mi Yuan replied, "Wait until it’s fully formed."

Yun Zheng was eager, "Why wait for another day when today’s perfect? I want to leave the Shadow Guard..."

Before Yun Zheng could finish, a cold glint flashed.

A razor-sharp dagger now rested against Yun Zheng’s neck.

Mi Yuan, who had been lounging lazily just moments before, now gripped the dagger tightly, his expression cold and fierce, giving off a dangerous vibe, "Yun Zheng, traitor’s death!"

Yun Zheng was drenched in cold sweat; he didn’t even see Mi Yuan make a move!

He flinched, swallowed hard, and hurriedly said, "It’s not betrayal, not at all."

"I just want to step out of the shadows, to be a servant boy driving and running errands for the master and mistress."

"My abilities are not as good as the other brothers in the team. I didn’t join the Shadow Guard because of talent or luck. It was because you gave me a chance."

"The Shadow Guard’s rule is clear: betrayal means death. It’s been etched into my heart."

Mi Yuan sized him up for a moment, then put away the dagger, "Next time, get to the point first."

If he hadn’t wanted to hear him out, he could’ve killed Yun Zheng the moment he swung the dagger.

Yun Zheng touched his stinging neck, "You move too fast."

Even though Mi Yuan had held back, the dagger still nicked Yun Zheng’s neck.

Mi Yuan said, "You’re too wordy."

"I can’t grant your request. You’ll have to ask personally."

Yun Zheng dabbed at the blood on his neck and whispered, "Brother Mi, Commander Mi, point me in the right direction."

Who should he ask for help?

There are four big shots above him now.

Which god should he pray to?

Mi Yuan said, "The mistress."

Yun Zheng replied, "Got it!"

"Commander Mi, has anyone ever told you that you’re quite nice?"

Mi Yuan was speechless.

He had once been the Shadow Guard commander directly under the emperor, the emperor’s hidden armor, and the emperor’s sharp sword.

So, the word "nice" didn’t apply to him.

"Yun Zheng, has anyone ever told you that you're pretty dumb?"

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll poison you into silence and make you a mute servant by the side of the master and mistress."

Yun Zheng leaped to another tree. "Let me say one last thing, why don't you ask me why I've come out of the shadows?"

Mi Yuan said nothing, just pulled out a small porcelain bottle, and Yun Zheng immediately fell silent.

Finally, Mi Yuan said, "Starting tonight, you're going to use your skill at pretending to be ghosts to scare people. Break down Hong Biao's psychological defenses, make him crawl and turn himself in."

Yun Zheng happily agreed.

He can make it all seem real, bloody handprints, footprints, and vengeful spirits!

The sooner he deals with Hong Biao, the sooner he can go back to being a servant boy.

He hopes the mistress will see him as the rare talent he is.

Off in Changhe County, Lu Mingchao suddenly sneezed.

Lu Mingchao rubbed his nose, "A Yan, I feel like someone is talking about me again."

Xie Yan, holding a military book, said, "Anyone talking about Mingchao is just one of his defeated opponents."

Lu Mingchao said, "Hey, modesty, modesty."

"Why the heck is Chuanbo taking so long to bring reinforcements!"

"Sun Zhiye is clinging to Sun Wude because of Lu Minghui, and as long as Lu Minghui doesn't take a stand, Sun Wude remains indecisive."

Xie Yan set down the military book and walked over to the window. "Is Mingchao waiting for reinforcements, or looking to drag the Yongning Marquis's estate into the dirt?"

Prince Duan is still in Xiangyun County.

The fallout from Sun Zhiye killing his brother is boiling over, and if the Yongning Marquis's estate dares to use power to suppress people, Prince Duan will make sure they regret it.

Lu Mingchao smiled openly, "Indeed, I'm aiming for two birds with one stone, but I don't know if heaven's on my side."

Hopefully, Chuanbo will be able to convince Lu Minghui to get involved in this mess.

Sooner or later, they will confront each other, so no need to feel guilty.

Back in the capital.

Lu Minghui's state is visibly deteriorating, becoming angrier by the day.

Sun Zhiye actually dares to threaten her!

Thanks to the Marquis's wife's warning, Lu Minghui no longer recklessly kills servants or smashes porcelain to vent her anger.

She held a long, thin, silver needle and stabbed Qiu Shi over and over.

Qiu Shi, in pain, curled up on the ground, her mouth stuffed, unable to make a sound, only whimpering.

Chun Hua stood under the eaves, her body trembling slightly. Her face showed reluctance as she turned away.

The eldest lady especially loves to torment Qiu Shi.

Before, it was punches and kicks, now it's silver needles.

Finger-length silver needles were inserted into Qiu Shi's body, one by one.

She once pleaded for Qiu Shi. As punishment, she was forced to kneel on porcelain shards for an entire night, injuring her leg. She still limps to this day.

She couldn’t stand it, but she was powerless.

"Chun Hua sister."

"The Duchess and the Young Master are about to visit. The mistress ordered the young lady to freshen up and go to the South Flower Hall."

A maid from the mistress’s courtyard hurried in to report.

Chun Hua breathed a sigh of relief, quickly pushed the door open, and before Lu Minghui could get angry, she said, "Young lady, the Duchess and the Young Master are about to visit. The mistress has asked you to go to the South Flower Hall."

Lu Minghui looked joyful, tossed the silver needle into the box beside her, and happily summoned the maids to redo her makeup.

"Chun Hua, drag her away." Lu Minghui shot a disgusted look at Qiu Shi and said coldly.

"By the way, let Xia Chan and Dong Xue come to serve."

"You, a limp, accompanying me to meet guests is disgraceful."

Chun Hua lowered her head, smiled respectfully, and said, "The young lady is kind to keep me by her side. I’m eternally grateful."

The smile on Lu Minghui's face faded, and she slapped Chun Hua's face. "A maid should act like a maid. Do you think you're worthy of big words?"

Chun Hua suddenly realized her mistake. She knelt heavily on the ground and began slapping her own cheeks without hesitation, until her lips split and her face swelled like a pig’s.

Only then did Lu Minghui finally raise her hand and said, "Go down."

Chun Hua hurriedly helped Qiu Shi, who was covered in cold sweat and pale from pain, to her feet and limped out of the room.

The young lady is unpredictable and flies off the handle at the slightest disagreement.

She’s hard to understand and predict.

But thanks to the Duchess and the Young Master's visit, Qiu Shi got another day of reprieve.

In Lan Xi Courtyard, Qiu Shi leaned on Chun Hua and said with difficulty, "I regret it, Chun Hua."

"Back then, I should have gone with the young lady."

"Nanny Wang said that if I was willing to keep serving the young lady, she’d personally ask the mistress for my deed of servitude so I could leave the capital with her."

"I was so foolish to refuse."

"I miss her."

Chun Hua quickly covered Qiu Shi's mouth and cautiously said, "Do you want to get yourself killed saying these things in Lan Xi Courtyard?"

"Qiu Shi, better a bad life than a good death!"

"Call off the engagement."