Chapter 92
Chapter 92: Cutting Flesh, Severing the Wrist
Madam Bai went back to the East Main Courtyard and drank a bowl of ginseng soup.
The heat in her body had already faded. Her spirit was once again full of hatred, so her weak, slumped look was much lighter.
Bai Ci Rong came in. She asked: “Aunt, is Princess Ping Yang really coming to the banquet?”
Madam Bai nodded and said: “The steward at the gate sent her invitation to the Princess Manor. Someone from the Princess Manor came in person to reply and even sent gifts.”
Bai Ci Rong’s eyes suddenly lit up.
She said: “If I can get to know the princess, I will have a chance to see Your Majesty.”
Madam Bai gently patted her head and said: “This time I will definitely let you meet the princess. But do not rush. Everything has to move slowly.”
She added: “As for arranging a few people to go into her courtyard, I will settle that in the next few days.”
Once she had eyes there, she could seize the chance and kill with a single blow.
Madam Bai could kill Luo Ning. She was the one who had given birth to Luo Ning. Even Luo Ning’s life belonged to her. She was the one most qualified to end her and remove this disaster.
Even a fierce tiger will not eat its own cubs. If Luo Ning had not attacked first, Madam Bai would never have been willing.
She was cutting flesh and severing her own wrist. She was being forced to do it.
Madam Bai always saw herself as kind and good.
She was deeply devoted and loyal to Qiu Shi Dong. She did her best to support her maiden home. To her children, she had given kindness as heavy as a mountain.
As for herself, she did not treat herself lightly at all. She thought she was very important and took very careful care of herself, never letting herself suffer even the smallest grievance.
Madam Bai had not failed anyone she cared about.
A person should live like this. To her, this was what true, great goodness was.
She deserved riches and honor. In the future she should become an old madam and live in peace all her life.
Otherwise, how could a merchant’s daughter like her change her fate, become the marchioness of the Marquis of Zhen Nan, and gain a first rank imperial honorary title?
Giving birth to Luo Ning was an act of kindness. Killing Luo Ning would also be an act of kindness.
Bai Ci Rong asked: “Mother, is it not too simple to just arrange for a maidservant to go into Wenqi Courtyard?”
She was desperate to see the Emperor.
She only needed one chance to fly up and become a phoenix.
But what Madam Bai was thinking about were spies and schemes, these softer, indirect methods.
Madam Bai said: “Your brother died a terrible death, while Luo Ning stood completely outside it all, without a trace of suspicion, only because every step she took was thorough. Do you also need to suffer a great loss before you learn to reflect? I told you already, you must stay calm and think far ahead.”
As she spoke, she grew angry. Her temper had been very bad these days.
Bai Ci Rong lowered her head and eyes and said: “Mother, please do not be angry. It is all my fault.”
Madam Bai said: “You must not be impatient either.”
Bai Ci Rong nodded.
Looking at her, Madam Bai felt that she was still unconvinced.
Bai Ci Rong had not yet suffered enough under Luo Ning’s hand and had not truly learned her lesson. Last time, when they sent her away, Madam Bai had hurried to bring her back and had not let her eat much bitterness.
If the whip never lands on your own body, you will never feel the pain.
Several times Bai Ci Rong had tried to deal with Luo Ning. Each time, Luo Ning’s counterattacks were calm and controlled. Because of that, Bai Ci Rong had never felt a pain that cut into her heart.
She was still as arrogant as before.
That kind of arrogance could cost her life.
Madam Bai warned her again and again.
After Bai Ci Rong left, Madam Bai began to make her plans.
She would use this banquet to place a maidservant at Luo Ning’s side. After the birthday banquet ended, she would assign ten more servants to Wenqi Courtyard.
If those servants succeeded, that would be good. If they failed, it did not matter. In the end she only needed to give Luo Ning one “trusted aide.”
This trusted maid would save Luo Ning at the right time, and would also help Luo Ning catch “spies.” That way, she would gain Luo Ning’s trust.
At Luo Ning’s side, except for Qiu Hua and Qiu Lan, who had followed and served her in the Southern Region, everyone else came from the marquis manor.
Luo Ning did not seem to doubt these people either.
Luo Ning also had her own pride. She had already managed to win over everyone in Wenqi Courtyard. So if another maidservant came and showed only “loyalty,” she could also win Luo Ning’s favor.
That girl would be the sharp tool Madam Bai used to kill Luo Ning.
These past few days, Madam Bai had been busy arranging this.
She would use all kinds of methods to make Luo Ning first become suspicious. Once Luo Ning had doubts, she would test this maidservant step by step. As soon as the maid passed Luo Ning’s tests and won her approval, she would become a sharp blade.
Madam Bai was confident.
She sent for Nanny Zhen to make the arrangements.
Although Nanny Zhen was no longer a steward now, she had run the inner residence for more than ten years. Her connections were strong, and her skills were excellent.
Over at Second Madam’s place and the Young Madam’s place, they were busy handling Luo Ning’s birthday banquet.
Second Madam said to Luo Wan: “I still cannot understand why A’Ning wants to invite the princess. She has always been careful and low key.”
Luo Wan said: “Mother, you may be thinking too much. Big Sister is now Prince Yong’s intended consort, and Princess Ping Yang is her sister in law. She is only visiting her in laws.”
Second Madam smiled and said: “You are still so naive. Miss Bai is still living in the Marquis Manor. A’Ning should not be the one to invite a noble lady to our door.”
Luo Wan was stunned and asked: “Then what goal does Big Sister have?”
Second Madam shook her head and said: “I thought about it for half the night and still could not figure it out.”
Luo Wan said: “Is Big Sister’s way of doing things really so deep and hard to guess? Maybe she has no goal at all. She just wants to celebrate her birthday and have a lively time.”
Second Madam said nothing more.
Over at the Young Madam’s courtyard, she also felt that Luo Ning’s high profile behavior was completely unlike her usual self.
She told her own trusted maid: “You must be extremely careful with every part of the preparations in the flower hall for the banquet. We have invited an opera troupe. Send a lively young maidservant to keep an eye on them. If there is any sign of trouble, you must be alert.”
The maidservant agreed.
The Young Madam wanted to do her best to help Luo Ning.
After Luo Yin’s “disappearance,” the Young Madam felt that the heavy burden on her shoulders was gone. She could see the rest of her days at a glance.
Some people would feel such days were dull, but the Young Madam liked them very much.
She was quiet and careful by nature. She liked days she could control, when everything followed clear traces and rules that made her feel at ease.
So the Young Madam put her whole heart into Luo Ning’s matters.
The people around her were much like her, each one gentle and slow on the surface, but very careful in their work.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
Inside Wenqi Courtyard, Luo Ning still lived as usual. She did not seem to look forward to her birthday banquet.
Once, when Qiu Lan and Qiu Hua were talking with Luo Ning, Lin Zhao quickly stepped outside.
Qiu Lan said: “Instructor Lin is truly a clear sighted and good person.”
Luo Ning smiled and said: “She is a woman who can serve by the prince’s side. Of course she is not stupid. Look at the prince. Does he look like someone who can tolerate foolish people?”
One needed both real skill and the ability to read people’s moods. In this, Lin Zhao was very sharp.
The three of them whispered together.
As for Nanny Yin and Nanny He, there was even less to say. They were old hands at pretending to be deaf and dumb. Even if you spoke on purpose for them to hear, as long as it was something they should not hear, they could forget it on the spot.
Now everyone in Wenqi Courtyard was of one heart.
Qiu Lan, Nanny Kong, and Qiu Hua all believed that the Marchioness, Madam Bai, would surely break this peace.
Luo Ning wanted to use this chance to block that path for good. She also needed to train a few people, but she would not keep them in Wenqi Courtyard.
Busy and busy, very soon it was the tenth day of the fifth month.
Luo Ning had another nightmare.
She had not dreamed of her past life for many days.
Maybe on this same day in her past life, something very painful had happened, leaving a mark in her memory that could never fade.
Even though there were two lives between then and now, the memory was still fresh.
While Qiu Lan helped her change out of her sweat soaked underclothes, she asked with some worry: “Big Miss, what did you dream about?”