Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Wanting Luo Ning Dead
In April it rained often. The leaves in the courtyard were washed clean and green like jade. The rain was light, fine, and lingering.
Cherries had just come into season. They were sweet with a hint of sourness, and Luo Ning liked them very much.
Prince Yong’s manor had sent a batch once, and Luo Ning asked Nanny Kong to buy more from the market twice.
Aside from going every day to greet her Grandmother, care about her health, and cheer up her mood, Luo Ning almost never went out to stroll.
She also rarely went to see the Marchioness.
She stayed inside her courtyard, reciting what Nanny Yin and Nanny He had taught her and practicing with the whip.
Hard work always brings results.
Now, whether it was the two nursemaids casually testing her or sparring with Lin Zhao, Luo Ning could handle everything with ease.
One morning, when Luo Ning got up early, she wanted to decorate her dressing table. She sent her young maidservant Chu Shuang to the rear garden to pick some peonies that were in full bloom.
The peonies were not yet past their season.
The young maidservant went and came back, then whispered in Luo Ning’s ear: “Cousin and Bi Yun also went to pick peonies. Nanny Sun from the steward’s courtyard picked all the best ones for me. Cousin’s face looked awful.”
Chu Shuang loved this kind of chance to show off.
But Luo Ning’s head maid, Qiu Lan, did not allow her to brag. So she did not dare say it in public and only told Luo Ning in private to satisfy her urge to talk.
She just liked that the steward and the other servants all valued the people from Wenqi Courtyard.
Luo Ning could not help laughing.
Chu Shuang’s cheeks turned a little red. She said: “Big Miss, this maid did not quarrel with Cousin. I even offered to let her have some, but she did not want them.”
Then her mouth ran away with her again as she said: “What right does she have to ask? The good things in the Marquis Manor should go to you first, Big Miss.”
Luo Ning laughed again and said: “You little imp.”
Qiu Lan came in to comb Luo Ning’s hair. Seeing young Chu Shuang still arranging flowers and not leaving, she asked: “What are you chattering about? Big Miss does not have time to listen to your gossip.”
Luo Ning never stepped in when the head maid was managing the young maidservants.
Everyone in the courtyard had her own duties. Once Luo Ning gave them their authority, she did not interfere.
Chu Shuang stuck out her tongue and said: “I will go now, Sister Qiu Lan.”
The peonies on the dressing table bloomed in full splendor, their light fragrance lingering in the air.
Luo Ning was in a very good mood.
She was happy, but Bai Ci Rong was furious.
After being driven out and then shamelessly squeezing her way back, she no longer had a courtyard of her own. She now lived in the side rooms of the East Main Courtyard and found it very hard to get used to.
Bai Ci Rong kept comforting herself: [I must bear humiliation and heavy burdens. Han Xin could endure crawling between someone’s legs. This little hardship is nothing.]
But she was, after all, only sixteen and full of young pride.
She had never suffered since childhood. Qiu Shi Dong had treated her like a precious pearl in his palm, and she had grown up surrounded by fine clothes and good food. After she entered the Marquis Manor, her treatment was even better than that of the Big Miss born of the principal wife. Everyone respected her.
Now that she had fallen so suddenly, no matter how she tried to console herself, a mouthful of anger stayed stuck in her chest.
People must go through many trials before they can withstand real blows. This was the first time Bai Ci Rong had met such a setback, and she truly could not stay calm.
This time, she did not go to complain to the Marchioness Madam Bai. Instead, she went to find Luo Yin.
The thoughts of two young people were closer. The Marchioness always told them to endure, look at the bigger picture, and plan for the long term.
Bai Ci Rong thought: [I am fated for wealth and honor. The fortune teller said my future rank would be beyond words. I do not need Luo Ning to help me at all.]
She hurried to Luo Yin’s courtyard. Luo Yin had just gotten up.
It was not a Court Rest Day today, but he had taken leave again. The pay from the yamen was small, and he skipped work often. His superior officer was a civil official from a poor background and felt helpless facing this kind of noble scion.
“Sister in law.” Bai Ci Rong smiled as she carried six peony stems. “I picked these in the rear garden this morning. The best ones were sent to Wenqi Courtyard. These few are very pretty, so I brought them for you, Sister in law.”
Madam Wen was gentle and soft tempered. Smiling warmly, she accepted them and said: “Thank you, A’Rong.”
“Is Brother at home?”
“He is. He got up early to practice with his sword and just changed clothes. Wait a bit, A’Rong,” Madam Wen said with a smile.
Everything looked peaceful and warm.
Luo Yin soon came out from the inner room.
“A’Rong, is there something from Mother?” Luo Yin asked.
Bai Ci Rong said: “No, I have something I want to trouble Brother with. Elder Grandmother in Yuhang will soon have her birthday, and I want to send gifts back…”
She glanced at Luo Yin.
Luo Yin caught her hint and said: “Come with me.”
He led Bai Ci Rong to the small sitting room in the east wing. After a maidservant served tea, Madam Wen came in, said a few words, then said: “You two have important matters to discuss. I will go check on A Qin.”
After she left, Bai Ci Rong’s smile collapsed.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she said in a low voice to Luo Yin: “Brother, I have really had enough. Luo Ning bullies people too much.”
As soon as she said that, Luo Yin flew into a rage and said: “More than too much. She is arrogant now that she has power, putting on the face of a lowly servant who climbed up. I could kill her.”
They shared the same anger and resentment.
Luo Yin felt it even more. He had been beaten several times, suffering both pain and humiliation, and his anger had burned away all his reason.
Bai Ci Rong asked in a whisper: “Brother, do you think her marriage into Prince Yong’s manor will be good for our future?”
Luo Yin snorted: “Her? It will be enough if she does not trample us. Hoping she will help us? That is a fool’s dream.”
Bai Ci Rong said: “On the very first day Prince Yong sent his betrothal gifts, he openly beat you, Brother. That shows that neither Luo Ning nor Prince Yong can be trusted.”
Luo Yin said: “Exactly.”
Bai Ci Rong said: “We cannot tolerate her. Once she really marries into Prince’s Manor and starts living a rich and easy life, she will press us down even more. We will never be able to lift our heads again.”
Luo Yin completely agreed.
He said: “When she truly becomes Princess Consort Yong, it will be too late to regret it. By then, trying to deal with her will be like an ant trying to shake a tree, while if she wants to deal with us, it will be as easy as crushing ants. We should strike first and stop her from ever climbing up that high branch.”
He and Bai Ci Rong looked at each other.
The brother and sister understood each other without words.
Bai Ci Rong said: “We must act early. We cannot let Aunt know.”
Luo Yin said: “Of course. My mother is soft hearted. She has foolish hopes about Luo Ning and even wants to rely on her to help us rise high. Only the two of us are clear headed and see Luo Ning’s vicious nature.”
As he spoke, he stood up and paced around the room. “How are we going to kill her?”
Bai Ci Rong thought for a moment and said: “Brother, I have a plan.”
She asked Luo Yin to lean closer and whispered it to him.
Her plan was very good.
It could kill Luo Ning and also help Bai Ci Rong gain some sympathy.
Once Luo Ning died and could not become Princess Consort Yong, the Luo family’s noble rank would still remain. The Empress Dowager might pity her death and perhaps reward the Marchioness Madam Bai by allowing her into the palace.
Bai Ci Rong also knew Dharma Master Hui Neng, so she too would have a chance to enter the palace.
As long as she could appear in front of the Emperor, she would have a chance to become a favored consort.
Bai Ci Rong said: “Brother, if I am blessed and give birth to an imperial prince, I will ask for a title for you. Then you will have your own fief and never have to fear Luo Chong Ye again. Her Majesty the Empress’s uncle was even made a Duke of the Realm.”
Luo Yin was wild with joy inside.
He said to Bai Ci Rong: “With your talent and beauty, it is only a matter of time before you stand above others.”
Then he ground his teeth and said: “But if Luo Ning does not die, she will torment us. You might suffer at her hands and lose your bright future.”
The two of them quickly came to an agreement and soon finished planning a method.
In the small sitting room of the east wing, there was a hole in the inner wall, hidden behind a cabinet.
The eldest Young Madam, Madam Wen, was standing there, eavesdropping for quite a while, but she only caught a few broken phrases.