Chapter 63
Chapter 63: Catching a Turtle in a Jar
The Marquis of Zhen Nan gave his son a heavy beating.
After the golden qilin was brought back, he personally carried it to his mother’s courtyard.
He said: “Back then, when he could not get into Lushan Academy, I already knew he was useless. After I received my noble rank, I used the chance while people in the capital could not guess His Majesty’s intentions to have someone recommend him to work in the Ministry of Personnel.”
“It has been more than two years, and he has no achievements at all. His superior officer is very dissatisfied with him. With the three-year performance review coming up, he will probably be dismissed.” The Marquis of Zhen Nan complained to Old Madam.
It was very shameful.
He sighed and said: “Luckily, A Ning has been named Princess Consort Yong. For Prince Yong’s sake, the Ministry of Personnel will at least show some favor in the review and keep his post for him.”
He no longer hoped for his son to be promoted.
Luo Yin was already twenty-one, yet he was still the lowest-ranked official in the Ministry of Personnel. If he could not rise in three years, then even after another three years, he would probably have to wait until after forty to reach a fifth-rank post.
For a civil official, anything under the fifth rank was just a tiny position not worth mentioning. The pay was not enough to support oneself.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan had chased power his whole life, yet he had achieved it through his daughter.
And Luo Yin? Who could he rely on?
After hearing this, Old Madam gave the Marquis of Zhen Nan a calm look and said: “Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. If he had any ability, if he could have tested into Lushan Academy, he would not have to worry about promotion.”
In the current dynasty, seventy percent of the civil officials were former students of Lushan Academy.
Ties between classmates and people from the same hometown in officialdom were very important.
Old Madam told someone to put the golden qilin away carefully, soothed the Marquis of Zhen Nan with a few words, and told him to go back and rest first.
Then she sent someone to invite Luo Ning over.
Old Madam lowered her voice and said: “Tell Prince Yong about this so that Luo Yin will not use the Prince’s name when his performance is reviewed. As long as he fails the review, he will be dismissed.”
Because he held the lowest post, this first review could decide his whole career.
Many officials exhausted their minds over this review, currying favor with colleagues and superior officers.
But Luo Yin thought far too highly of himself.
Luo Ning nodded and said: “I understand. I will send someone to speak with the Prince.”
Old Madam nodded.
Grandmother and granddaughter ate dinner together.
Old Madam could not eat much.
Luo Ning scooped a small bowl of rice porridge for her and asked: “What is wrong, Grandmother?”
Old Madam said: “Every time I think of that poisonous woman laying hands on A Qin, I lose my appetite.”
Luo Ning’s heart tightened.
She was angry too.
These past few days, she had sat quietly with Grandmother in the Buddha hall and talked about many things.
Luo Ning had told Grandmother part of the secrets she knew: Luo Yin and Bai Ci Rong were both children born from Madam Bai’s affair with Qiu Shi Dong.
Madam Bai believed that Luo Ning’s little brother, Luo You, was also Qiu Shi Dong’s child.
When Luo You was young, he looked like his mother and was quite pretty.
But as a boy grows to thirteen or fourteen, he gradually looks more like a man. Only then did Madam Bai suddenly realize that seven parts of Luo You’s looks were like Luo Chong Ye’s.
So in her past life, Luo You did not end well either. After Luo Yin killed the Marquis of Zhen Nan, he was afraid Luo You knew the secret and caused Luo You to fall from his horse and become paralyzed.
Luo You lay paralyzed in bed. Although Madam Bai felt sorry for him, she could not go against her eldest son and could only watch Luo You suffer for two years before he died.
After her rebirth, Luo Ning did not have much contact with Luo You. Because Luo You was very driven, he had always studied at Madam Zhou’s clan academy. Luo Ning did not want him to be forced to take sides between his mother and his sister or be distracted.
He did not have to be close to Luo Ning. She only hoped he could make something of himself and plan his own future one day.
Madam Zhou was a close neighbor. Her family was the household of a Duke of the Realm, a great noble family with a hundred years of history.
Their clan academy was large, with many children studying there, and they were willing to accept children from other families as long as they paid some tuition.
The Luo family had no clan academy of their own. Among the boys, apart from Luo You, no one liked to study, so they could not even put together a simple little school at home.
Luo Ning had told Grandmother: “When I was in the Southern Region, I found out these secrets. As for the details, I cannot tell you for now.”
Grandmother believed her.
But Grandmother knew this matter could not be made public.
If the shameful things Madam Bai had done were spread, the Luo family’s reputation would be ruined. And if the Marquis of Zhen Nan refused to believe it, it would be even more troublesome, because he favored his eldest son after all.
It would only alarm them.
The inner residence was almost entirely under Madam Bai’s control. If she were driven into a corner and decided to drag everyone down with her, the Luo family would suffer greatly.
Luo Ning would probably be splashed with filth as well.
This had to be handled in secret.
They had to slowly cut off Madam Bai’s roots, bit by bit.
Luo Ning said to Grandmother: “We have to simmer it over a small fire. We cannot rush. If we rush, we will make mistakes.”
Luo Ning said she would handle it herself. She was already Prince Yong’s intended consort and had the ability to do it, so she asked Grandmother to trust her.
Grandmother only needed to cooperate with her.
Luo Ning said: “A Qin is fine. He has not touched any poison at all. As long as he is safe and sound, that is enough. Grandmother, this time I also want Madam Bai to taste what it feels like.”
Old Madam gave Luo Ning a gratified look.
Because from beginning to end, Luo Ning had never said, “A Qin is not even of the Luo bloodline, so Madam Bai can torment him however she likes.”
Even if he was not, Luo Li Qin was still just a small child.
Madam Bai dared to act against a child, but Old Madam’s heart ached for that little one.
Madam Wen also had a good conscience.
Luo Ning wanted to deal with Madam Bai, yet she had not lost her humanity. Old Madam was very pleased about this.
Luo Ning then said to Grandmother: “Madam Bai made such a fuss because she did not want Bai Ci Rong to leave. As for this Bai Ci Rong, if she had really slipped away with her tail between her legs, I might not have moved against her for now. But since she refuses to go, she is seeking her own death.”
Old Madam asked: “You agree to let her come back?”
Luo Ning thought for a moment and said: “Catching a turtle in a jar. She is the one clinging on and refusing to leave. We are not forcing her.”
Since she would not leave, Luo Ning would never let her off easily.
Old Madam took a deep breath.
Her energy was failing. She forced herself to eat a little. Luo Ning helped her lie down to sleep and comforted her for a long time before finally heading back.
On the way back, Luo Ning felt a little regret for telling Grandmother all of this.
It was Grandmother who had asked her.
Grandmother had sharply noticed that something was wrong between Luo Yin and Bai Ci Rong.
In that moment, Luo Ning had not been able to hold back.
Maybe she had spent too long as a ghost. Even after her rebirth, she was still walking alone in the dark.
Grandmother was her only warmth.
She wanted to walk together with Grandmother, to at least lean on each other.
But Grandmother was old and in poor health. Luo Ning worried that she would not be able to bear the shock and would repeat the early death of the last life.
When she returned to Wenqi Courtyard, the maidservant Qiu Hua was holding a lantern, and Luo Ning walked very slowly.
When they reached the East Main Courtyard, Luo Ning changed direction and said to Qiu Hua: “Go knock on the door. I want to see Madam.”
Qiu Hua was a little surprised, but she still obediently went to knock.
Luo Ning was invited inside.
The Marchioness had not gone to sleep. She leaned weakly against the neck bolster on the large kang bed by the window in the east side room, with a medicinal plaster on her temple.
When she saw Luo Ning, she tried to smile, but could not manage it.
Luo Ning sat on the edge of the bed, and the Marchioness almost showed a look of disgust.
Luo Ning asked: “Mother, where do you feel unwell?”
The Marchioness said faintly: “There are many things at home, and your mother is worried. A Rong has left again, and there is no one to share my troubles.”
Luo Ning said: “Mother, if you fall ill, who will keep this household running? You must take care of your health. By the way, spring is almost here. Do you still have the prescription for treating peach blossom rash?”
Without waiting for the Marchioness to answer, Luo Ning went on: “I remember Cousin had it. Did she take it back to Yuhang with her?”
Something stirred in the Marchioness’s heart.
She said at once: “That prescription does belong to A Rong, but sadly she has gone back.”
Luo Ning smiled and said: “The medicinal powder sold outside is not as good as that one. My maidservants Qiu Lan and Qiu Hua both often get peach blossom rash. When it flares up, their whole bodies are covered in red bumps. It is very uncomfortable.”
They chatted idly for a few more sentences. Seeing that the Marchioness was absent-minded, Luo Ning rose and took her leave.
Walking out of the courtyard, Luo Ning gave a faint smile.
[In my last life, you fed me that poison and made red rashes break out all over my body, just to clear the way for Bai Ci Rong.]
[This time, for Bai Ci Rong’s sake, will you taste that medicine yourself and feel what it is like for your whole body to itch and hurt?]
[You were willing to act against your own daughter and grandson all for Bai Ci Rong. Are you willing to act against yourself for her?]
[If you are willing, then bring Bai Ci Rong back to Marquis Manor again and watch with your own eyes as she dies in front of you.]