Chapter 250: A Good Life with Left and Right Embrace

Chapter 250: A Good Day with Both Sides Close

Lu Mingchao couldn't help but laugh.

She believed Yongning Marquis's Madam's words.

However, this kind of longing was not the same as that kind of longing.

Every time Lu Minghui caused trouble or made a mess, Yongning Marquis's Madam would miss the original owner who was easy to manage.

This kind of longing was better left unfulfilled.

Lu Mingchao gazed at the lush bamboo forest in the Longcui Courtyard.

The dew cleansed the bamboo joints, and the wind swayed the green jade-like branches.

This bamboo forest was very similar to the one in the Xie residence in Changhe County.

Since moving to Changhe in early spring, she had grown accustomed to sitting on the stone chair by the bamboo forest, sipping tea and listening to the wind.

The bamboo forest remained the same, but her family was no longer by her side.

On the path shaded by bamboo leaves, there seemed to be figures faintly visible.

Lu Mingchao focused her gaze and saw that it was the maid from Yongning Marquis's residence leading Liu Yue, Dan Zhu, Hu Po, and Qing Tang slowly approaching.

"Second Young Lady," the servant from the Marquis's residence curtsied and greeted her respectfully.

Lu Mingchao said gently, "There's no need to call me Second Young Lady."

"Just call me Madam Xie."

The maid from the Marquis's residence hesitated, stammering an explanation, "Madam has ordered that everyone in the residence should respect you as the Second Young Lady, with the same provisions for food, clothing, and accommodations as the First Young Lady."

"Second Young Lady, I've brought them here. I'll take my leave now."

The maid hurried away, as if the Longcui Courtyard were something unclean to be avoided.

Lu Mingchao didn't mind. Instead, she smiled and waved to Liu Yue and the others.

Liu Yue instinctively grinned, her smile bright and clear, like a happy dog wagging its tail.

Lu Mingchao was infected by Liu Yue's smile and felt a bit more relaxed. "Let's discuss your skills again."

"This time, be honest."

Liu Yue puffed out her chest and said cheerfully, "Madam, I'm really good with a knife."

"Chopping melons and vegetables with quick, precise strokes."

"White blade in, red blade out, huh?" Lu Mingchao added.

Liu Yue nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Madam, you are indeed wise."

"With me around, anyone who dares to harm Madam will have their head chopped off."

Lu Mingchao: I can see that Liu Yue is quite the talker.

Hmm, she would likely get along well with Yun Zheng, who is far away in Changhe County.

When the two of them get together, they can chat for hours on end.

"Your maid Dan Zhu is skilled at seizing opportunities to gather information and stir the pot."

Dan Zhu is petite and turns red at the drop of a hat when she speaks.

Lu Mingchao is a bit skeptical—can someone so shy really gather intel?

Seizing opportunities is as precise as threading a needle.

"Your maid Amber is a true expert in makeup and hairstyling. With just one look, there’s no hairstyle or makeup I can’t master, which is why I’ve picked up a bit of disguise work."

Amber is tall and slender, with skin that’s not particularly fair or soft, and a slightly husky voice. But her features are strikingly sharp and delicate, like a rugged pine on a lonely mountain, exuding an androgynous beauty at first glance.

If she wore a long robe and held a folding fan, she’d pass for a dashing young nobleman.

"Your maid Qing Tang knows her way around herbs and medicine—she can heal the sick and save lives, or poison someone without leaving a trace."

Qing Tang has an innocent, harmless vibe, even more so than Lu Minghui, like a delicate little flower.

Lu Mingchao muses to herself.

Each of the four maids has her own unique skills.

Liu Yue is lively and wields a big knife like a pro.

Dan Zhu is shy but sharp when it comes to gathering intel.

Amber is sharp and a master of disguise.

Qing Tang is pure-hearted but deadly with poison.

Their looks and personalities don’t match their skills at all.

With these four by her side, she can breathe easier.

"Qing Tang, please inspect the entire Longcui Courtyard inside and out."

Qing Tang replies, "Yes, Madam."

Liu Yue, not one to be left out, chimes in, "Madam, what about me?"

"Should I go chop off Lu Minghui’s head so you can use it as a kickball?"

Dan Zhu smiles shyly, "I’ll take a stroll around the Marquis’s estate and chat with the maids and servants about everyday gossip."

Amber, not one for words, just bats her strikingly delicate eyes, looking both proud and pleading at Lu Mingchao.

Lu Mingchao thinks: She’s living the good life, surrounded by beauties and basking in their attention.

She may have missed the golden days, but she’s definitely living well now.

"Liu Yue, we can’t just go around chopping people’s heads off, you know."

"Dan Zhu, you can go mingle and build some connections."

"As for Amber, I’ve got some disguise tools you might find useful—feel free to tinker with them in your free time."

Amber’s eyes light up instantly.

In the Loncui Garden, the mistress and her servants chatted and laughed merrily.

In the Lanxi Garden, metaphorically a storm was brewing, and the atmosphere was tense with anxiety.

After leaving the Loncui Garden, the Madam of Yongning Marquis went straight to the Lanxi Garden.

Nanny Wang still stood expressionlessly under the eaves, keeping watch.

The servants attending to Miss Lu Minghui in the Lanxi Garden were driven outside the courtyard, forbidden to approach.

Qiu Shi (meaning "Autumn Fruit") was emaciated to the point of being skin and bones, her cheeks sunken, and her usually numb expression now showed rare ripples of emotion. Her skeletal fingers tightly twisted a handkerchief, and her deep, well-like eyes flickered with a strange light. She looked up at Chun Hua (meaning "Spring Blossom") with hope, "Sister Chun Hua, the young lady has returned to the estate, the young lady has returned."

"Am I... am I saved from this torment?"

Chun Hua first glanced around cautiously, ensuring no one was paying attention, then lowered her voice, "Qiu Shi, you are a servant of the Lanxi Garden, and your deed of sale is held by the young lady."

"If the young lady doesn't release you, there's nothing the young lady can do to help you."

The light in Qiu Shi's eyes dimmed bit by bit.

It was like a candle flame struggling desperately in a howling wind, on the verge of being extinguished.

Tears fell silently down her cheeks, one after another.

"Sister Chun Hua, it hurts so much."

"I can't sleep all night because of the pain, I can't breathe."

"I can't go on anymore like this."

Chun Hua's eyes stung with tears as she fought back her emotions. She pitied and ached for Qiu Shi, yet she was utterly helpless to do anything, forced to watch Qiu Shi suffer.

After the New Year festivities, the young lady was no longer satisfied with merely pricking Qiu Shi with needles but began embedding silver needles deeply into her body.

At first, Chun Hua tried to keep track of how many needles were inside Qiu Shi, but later...

She lost count of the number.

When the young lady was happy, she would torment Qiu Shi.

When the young lady was upset, she would also torment Qiu Shi.

Chun Hua herself didn't know how much longer Qiu Shi could survive.

She repeatedly advised Qiu Shi that, in her opinion, a miserable life was better than death, but deep down, she also felt that Qiu Shi's miserable existence was truly unbearable.

"Qiu Shi, go and beg the young lady."

"Maybe, just maybe, the young lady has a way."

Qiu Shi fell silent, then after a long while, slowly shook her head, "I won't beg anymore."

"To put it nicely, the young lady is staying at the marquis's residence; to put it bluntly, she's living under someone else's roof."

"My body is filled with silver needles moving through my blood. Even if the young lady tries her best to save me from this hell, I won't live much longer. I won't trouble the young lady anymore with my problems."

"Being able to see the young lady before I die, I have no regrets."

Even in death, she wanted her death to have meaning to her.

I must not end up like those who were beaten to death for no reason, wrapped in a straw mat and carelessly dumped in a mass grave, ignored and unknown to anyone.

Qiu Shi's eyes were filled with a deep, ink-like hatred.

She hated Lu Minghui.

Chun Hua held Qiu Shi's hand, whispering urgently and pleadingly, "Qiu Shi, don't do anything foolish."

"I've already figured out a way to get you out of the estate."

Feeling the icy coldness of Chun Hua's touch, Qiu Shi's resolve grew firmer. "Sister Chun Hua, I won't leave the estate."

"These past few days, the pain in my chest has been severe."

"Perhaps those silver needles have already reached my heart."

"Leaving the estate won't help me anymore, but you still have a chance, Sister Chun Hua."

"Sister Chun Hua, use the plan for yourself."

This is beyond belief.