Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  Yun Qian Meng saw that the old madam had something to discuss with Yun Xuan Mo, then brought Yun Ruo Xue and Yun Yan to first withdraw from the warm room!

  “Humph! So you know how to play the good guy!” On the road, Yun Ruo Xue’s expression was extremely ugly. In the end, she couldn’t hold it in and spat these words from behind Yun Qian Meng!

  Yun Qian Meng heard her but didn’t get angry, and only slightly slowed her steps. Her eyes cold, she said with a stern voice, “meimei, don’t forget the reason we came here! This issue was proposed by Su yiniang, if meimei doesn’t let zumu return to the xiangfu over some other matters, then father wouldn’t forgive meimei just for yiniang. Which is heavy and which is light, meimei should ponder for herself!”

  Finishing, Yun Qian Meng didn’t continue, and brought Mi mama to return back to Die Ying Yuan. Seeing that only Mu Chun and Mi mama were left in the room, she then quietly asked, “Have you found that person?”

  Mi mama understood, then immediately stepped forward and whispered, “Already sent people to bring her over from Ye city. nubi personally arranged for her to stay in a tavern, waiting until we return to the xiangfu before bringing her to see xiaojie!”

  Yun Qian Meng saw that Mi mama’s expression seemed slightly disturbed, and understood in her heart that the person must have suffered miserably. However, now was still not the right time to meet. They could only be patient, and put the matter off until they returned to the xiangfu!

  Chapter 43: Kidnapped | Chu Wang Fei

  A day of rest passed quickly as all kinds of supplies were properly prepared!

  On the third day, Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie kowtowed towards Yun Xuan Mo and Li shi in farewell. Under Yun Xuan Mo’s lead, everyone in Yun fu personally sent the old madam onto the carriage!

  Throughout the journey, Yun Qian Meng and the old madam sat in the same carriage. When the old madam saw that Yun Qian Meng always thought about her in every matter, thinking that her two grandsons would not lack support from Fu Guo gongfu, her attitude towards Yun Qian Meng was even better than usual. After interacting for a few days, the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter had become even more harmonious; to an outsider, it would seem that Yun Qian Meng had grown up under the loving care of the old madam!

  By the fourth day of the journey, they were only one day away from returning to the xiangfu. This time, Captain Liu was even more cautious. He especially selected a different tavern and bought out the entire place. Only then did he invite the old madam and the young misses and young masters to stay!

  After the previous incident, Wang mama stuck close to Yun Ruo Xue for the entire day, afraid that the escaped Zhao Ming would find the opportunity to take revenge on them!

  And at the moment, there wasn’t even the slightest trace of the assassins from Su fu’s second master that should have been ready to ambush them along the road. This caused Wang mama to feel ill-at-ease for the entire period, constantly feeling as if something big was about to happen!

  But turning around and thinking, with Captain Liu’s security measures being so strict, surely Zhao Ming wouldn’t be so stupid as to walk right into a trap. Besides, with the old madam here, surely the eldest miss wouldn’t be so daring as to openly entrap her blood-related younger sister!

  With these thoughts, Wang mama’s heart which had been heavy throughout the journey finally loosened up a bit. But just in case, she still had the servants prepare some simple bedding besides Yun Ruo Xue’s bed, so that she could guard directly by Yun Ruo Xue’s side!

  However, as everyone winded down in the middle of the night, a sharp call for help suddenly came from Yun Ruo Xue’s room, “Help! Help… Someone come quickly……”

  Everyone was suddenly roused from their dreams, and only heard the sound of doors being forcefully pushed disturbing the quiet night. The sound of the door frame smashing into the wall created a loud noise, startling everyone until they just hastily threw on their outer clothing, and without properly doing their hair, rushed into Yun Ruo Xue’s room……

  “Captain Liu, quick! er xiaojie has been kidnapped! Quickly give chase!” Everyone was just shocked by Wang mama’s panicked expression, heard her alarmed cry, and immediately went to work in a fluster!

  Captain Liu immediately led the guards by his side and chased towards the direction Wang mama had pointed towards. When Yi Heng and his brother saw this, they too followed to give chase!

  The old madam was currently frightened until her body was covered in cold sweat. Regardless of how much she didn’t like Yun Ruo Xue, that girl was still a proper young miss of the xiangfu. If anything happened here and now, not only would Yi Heng and Yi Jie’s careers be obstructed, she was afraid that Yun Xuan Zhi would even bear a grudge against herself, his own mother!

  While everyone was equally terrified, the old madam didn’t feel at ease to let Yun Qian Meng and Yun Yan return to their own rooms. Having them stay obediently by her side, she finally managed to calm her nerves, then sternly shouted towards Wang mama who was planning to join the search party, “Old crone, still don’t quickly come back? Tell us clearly, what just happened?!”

  Wang mama jumped at the old madam’s loud shout, and immediately retrieved her feet that were about to step outside. She unwillingly kneeled before the old madam and cried, “laotaitai, nubi was only half-conscious and suddenly saw a shadow carrying a wrapped bundle over his shoulders! nubi unconsciously looked towards xiaojie’s bed, then realized that the shadow had jumped out of the window with xiaojie wrapped in the sheets! laotaitai, you have to back up our xiaojie! xiaojie has always stayed at home, absolutely cannot have incurred hatred from anyone. This is certainly a deliberate trap by someone! laotaitai, please uncover the culprit behind the curtains to return justice to our xiaojie!”

  Finishing, Wang mama crawled towards the old madam’s feet and hugged her legs while weeping loudly. Her appearance caused the old madam who was already in a poor mood to get really angry!

  Yun Qian Meng’s face was full of concern, but her glistening eyes streaked with chilliness; her eyes that looked towards Wang mama flashed with cold intent!

  She really was worthy of being Su Qing’s wet nurse, with so much experience in the matters between large households, even her reactions couldn’t be compared to ordinary people. Her words did not even slightly touch upon Yun Ruo Xue’s disgraced reputation, instead quickly diverting everyone’s attention, causing everyone’s gaze to be fixed upon the assassin!

  Wang mama saw that the old madam was sinking into deep thought, and just wanted to continue, but only felt a cold glare behind her back. Her body couldn’t help but tremble, as a cold chill rose in her heart. Turning her head, she only saw Yun Qian Meng quietly look her in the eye, then spoke in concern, “zumu, there’s no use in blaming Wang mama now! Captain Liu will definitely find meimei. We should instead think of a way to explain this to father! As jiejie, I didn’t properly take care of my meimei, and let meimei’s reputation suffer such a huge dishonor, I can hardly absolve myself from blame!”

  As she spoke, Yun Qian Meng’s eyes immediately reddened, and a single tear streaked down her cheeks. The pained expression in her eyes made it difficult for others to condemn her!

  Wang mama saw this, and only felt anger surging up in her chest. This was clearly all an elaborate trick by the eldest miss, but now she actually put on an act in front of the old madam! Especially with these words that seemed to be full of concern, each sentence was sandwiched with knives, each word was drawing blood, the second miss’s reputation had immediately been ruined by these veiled jabs from the eldest miss!

  Yet the old madam dearly pulled Yun Qian Meng over, and spoke with sincere and earnest wishes, “zumu knows that you worry for Ruo Xue, but you must also pay attention to your own health! For something like this to happen to Ruo Xue, isn’t it just because the servants didn’t serve her well? It has nothing to do with you, so why should you be sad because of a little girl with a ruined reputation?”

>   Wang mama had planned to retort, but suddenly heard the old madam say this. Her thick face momentarily paled and she lost control of her body as she fell backwards, having suddenly fainted……

  “Mi mama, quickly help Wang mama back to her room to rest. The elderly can’t withstand too many shocks!” Yun Qian Meng gave Mi mama a meaningful look. Mi mama immediately understood, and with Mu Chun, supported Wang mama out of the room!

  After that, Yun Qian Meng personally offered a cup of hot tea to the old madam, then together with Yun Yan, the both of them quietly accompanied her in the room.

  The night passed without sleep. It was only at the moment of daybreak when movements were finally heard from outside the tavern. The old madam didn’t even twitch her eyelids and immediately started thumbing the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand!

  Within a short moment, noises were heard at the doorway. They only saw Yuan Qing Zhou holding a pale-faced, purple-lipped and shivering Yun Ruo Xue in his arms while they walked inside. As he entered the room, he shouted towards the servants within, “Quickly pour some hot tea for Xue’er meimei to warm up her body!””

  “Who dares!” But at this moment, the old madam who had endured for the whole night spoke up. Her words were seven parts fierce and three parts cold. Especially when she saw the male stranger hugging Yun Ruo Xue in his arms, she slammed her hand with the prayer beads onto the table, creating a loud sound, frightening all the servants until no one dared to make even the slightest noise!

  “Mi mama, quickly help er xiaojie to her bed. meimei has been cold for the whole night, Mu Chun, quickly go and prepare a bowl of ginger soup!” Yet at this moment, Yun Qian Meng was lovingly looking towards Yun Ruo Xue who was shrinking in Yuan Qing Zhou’s embrace while plainly giving orders to her people!

  When she heard Yun Qian Meng speak up, and saw Mi mama quickly take Yun Ruo Xue out of Yuan Qing Zhou’s embrace, the old madam’s expression finally improved slightly. However, her eyes were still glaring scathingly at Yun Ruo Xue as she continued saying in a stern voice, “Yi Heng, Yi Jie and Captain Liu can stay. The rest of you, get out!”

  Yuan Qing Zhou was just absorbed by Yun Qian Meng’s beauty, but heard the old madam expelling the guests, and could only unwillingly get pushed out by the xiangfu’s guards!

  After everyone had left, the old madam’s sever gaze swept towards Yun Ruo Xue who was tottering towards her bed, suddenly shouting, “Kneel!”

  Chapter 44: Cold-blooded family | Chu Wang Fei

  Yun Ruo Xue had suffered a night of terror, and was now being treated severely by the old madam. Her mind momentarily broke down, as she sat paralyzed on the floor like a spineless catkin and stared lifelessly at the floor, her face shockingly pale!

  When Yun Qian Meng saw that her expression was so poor, a tender expression emerged in her eyes. Immediately stepping over, she received a lined jacket from Mu Chun and draped it over Yun Ruo Xue’s shoulders, then raised her head towards the old madam, pleading, “zumu, meimei is still a girl. No matter what happened, zumu should let meimei put on some outer clothes and not let other people see anything to mock in our xiangfu! Everything can be decided by father after we return to the xiangfu!”

  Yun Qian Meng was reminding the old madam, regardless of how much resentment towards Yun Ruo Xue the old madam had hidden in her heart, this matter was already seen by Yuan Qing Zhou. Even if Yun Ruo Xue had really suffered the greatest grievance, now was really not the right time to blame her. If the entire family was unable to pretend that everything was going well, then they didn’t need to mingle in the capital after today!

  The old madam was indeed angry over the events over the night. Especially after she saw the intimate contact between Yuan Qing Zhou and Yun Ruo Xue, she, who stuck to the conservative feudal customs, really felt that she had lost all her face!

  But Yun Qian Meng’s words had reminded her just in time that they shouldn’t air their dirty linen in public, it really wasn’t a good time for her to punish Yun Ruo Xue!

  Holding down her anger, the old madam shot a fierce flare at Yun Ruo Xue, only then did she ease off her tense expression, turning towards Yun Yi Heng and the others, “Just what exactly happened?”

  Since the two Yun brothers weren’t clear on the earlier happenings, Captain Liu stepped forward and restated the events that had occurred several days ago in an extremely small voice, then took a few steps back before quietly saying, “nucai and the others chased the shadow out of the tavern, but didn’t expect to lose track of him. Hence, we had no choice but to spread out and search in every direction. In the end, we found er xiaojie at the bottom of a cliff! And the person who had snatched xiaojie away was Zhao Ming who had shown up several days before; he already fell to his death on that very cliff!”

  When the old madam heard this, her expression became ashen due to her anger. She shot a sharp knife-like gaze towards Yun Ruo Xue on the bed, inwardly lamenting that their family was really too unlucky!

  Thumbing the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand once again, the old madam softly recited the phrase ‘Amitābha’ before she continued with her questioning, “Then what about that Han Guo gongfu’s xiao gongzi!”

  After Captain Liu heard this question, his expression also turned ugly. His gaze somewhat oddly swept over the Yun brothers beside him as he spoke somewhat ashamedly, “We nucai just rushed out of the tavern, and saw that Yuan gongzi who had received the news was going to force his way inside. He delayed nucai and kept asking about xiaojie’s situation. When he found out that xiaojie was kidnapped, he unexpectedly helped look for her. In the end it’s the two shaoye and Yuan gongzi who first found er xiaojie!”

  When Yun Qian Meng heard this, she immediately understood the strange expression Captain Liu showed just now!

  Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie had clearly been together with Yuan Qing Zhou when they first found Yun Ruo Xue. But the both of them, as elder brothers, didn’t go to help her, instead it was Yuan Qing Zhou who was the first to lend a hand!

  Perhaps, the first decision in both of their hearts was to have this matter cause Yun Ruo Xue’s reputation to be destroyed!

  While Yun Qian Meng was able to read between the lines, the old madam had an even clearer picture. Although Yun Ruo Xue was not comparable to her two grandsons, she was still her eldest son’s daughter. If she sided with her grandsons too much in front of a trusted aide of Yun Xuan Zhi, she feared that her eldest son would be half-hearted towards her grandsons in the future. Putting down the prayer beads, her expression sunk as she somewhat resentfully criticized the two of them, “Are you two useless blockheads? How can you let an outsider embrace Ruo Xue?!”

  Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie heard the old madam’s reproachful voice, and put on ashamed appearances. However, the expression in their eyes remained the same as they simultaneously stooped their backs in apology towards the old madam, saying, “zumu is right to scold us, everything is sun’er’s mistake!”

  Both of them were not stupid. They naturally knew that the old madam did this in front of everyone only to put on a show for their uncle, so as not to let him have a hold on them later!

  The old madam saw that her grandson’s reactions were so nimble, and was inwardly pleased. Her expression eased up a little bit as she somewhat tiredly waved to instruct Captain Liu, “We’ll discuss this again after we return to the xiangfu. Prepare the carriages now, before a new branch springs out from this knot!”

  Captain Liu quickly turned to leave, but Yun Qian Meng suddenly reminded, “Captain Liu, make sure to find out the identity of that Zhao Ming. As for the body, while we wait for father to make the decision, temporarily send a few people to guard over it!”

  Captain Liu heard this and couldn’t help but turn towards Yun Qian Meng. He only saw that, although her complexion was slightly pale after the sleepless night, her deep eyes were showing a convincing wisdom. In the face of these kinds of affairs, she was still able to remain calm and composed while she made decisions, causing a grown man lik
e himself to only feel a certain admiration towards her!

  Captain Liu only immediately replied, “nucai understands, daxiaojie can be reassured!” After he finished, he turned and left the room, then instructed the guards to perform their respective duties.

  Yet it wasn’t only Captain Liu who was astonished. The old madam, Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Hie all looked towards Yun Qian Meng, trying to figure out the difference.

  But Yun Qian Meng had already lowered her eyes; she only received the hot ginger soup from Mu Chun, then carefully fed it to Yun Ruo Xue with the help of the servants!

  Yun Ruo Xue was already frozen stiff and was wrapping herself in the warm quilt unwilling to let go. She hadn’t yet snapped out of her stupor and even forgot to swallow the ginger soup that was delivered to her mouth. The old madam frowned as she watched, then pushed herself up with her palm on the table, speaking somewhat wearily, “Meng’er, help your meimei tidy up before we set off! Yi Heng, all of you should go out. This is a girl’s room, it isn’t convenient for you to stay!”

  Yun Qian Meng quietly complied, then continued to patiently feed Yun Ruo Xue. Yun Yi Heng and his brother also amiably stepped forward, then supported the old madam on both sides to leave the room.

  “Don’t… need… your… fake kindness……” After swallowing a few mouthfuls of ginger soup, Yun Ruo Xue’s body gradually warmed up; yet when she managed to clearly see the person before her, the hatred in her heart suddenly surged forth. Her eyes carried enormous resentment as she glared at Yun Qian Meng, as she spat her words out through clenched teeth!

  But Yun Qian Meng only continued to stir the ginger soup, raising a spoonful that wasn’t too hot towards Yun Ruo Xue’s lips before she replied with a smile, “Isn’t this the surprise that meimei had prepared for jiejie? It’s just that our positions were switched, can meimei not bear it?”