Chapter 30 The Suffering of Being a Slave

Although Qin Xu was involved in the kitchen incident, she was not the mastermind, nor did she engage in any coercive actions. She and Yun Ping hit it off immediately, and it was Yun Ping who approached her.

These two people share a common goal: to teach Shan a lesson.

Shanlai blocked the path of both of them. In fact, it wasn't just the two of them; there were others whose paths were also blocked, causing some degree of inconvenience. But because they were smart, they weighed the pros and cons and chose to back down.

Qin Xu and Yun Ping are different; they are both people who are not to be trifled with, and their interests have been severely damaged. How could they be easily dealt with?

Especially cloud screens.

She wished Shanlai would die.

But he didn't lose his mind, and he didn't have the guts to kill anyone, so he chose to set fire.

Liu Min's words had already humiliated Yun Ping, stirring up restless ambitions in some people. Although she had dealt with a couple of unruly individuals openly and secretly, she couldn't shake the foundation of the situation. Moreover, they only highlighted her predicament. Some cunning individuals dared to openly humiliate her; even a lackey dared to steal food from her! How could she tolerate this? If she did, she would be finished!

Fortunately, we still have an ally.

Miss Biao's thoughts were obvious to everyone, but the young master's feelings for her remained lukewarm, so how could she not be anxious? And then another fair and just person appeared, whom the young master liked very much, leaving her with nowhere to stay. It would be strange if she wasn't anxious. With just a few words, she was pulled into his trap.

Yunping was influential and easy to boss around. Moreover, when people were being ordered around by her, they didn't know that she was up to no good, so it was easy for her to get her way. In the kitchen, apart from a maid who had fainted from drinking drugged wine, there was no one else. However, the pear soup that Miss Biao wanted was still hanging on the fire, so it was not surprising that the fire would start.

The fire has started, and with such a large commotion, how can they only drive away one lackey?

Yunping told Qin Xu that the girl who tended the fire was from the same hometown as the newcomer, and the two had a deep bond. Since the girl had committed a crime, with the right strategy, they could easily drag the other girl into it. The old lady would never let such a serious matter go unpunished. If she pleaded for leniency, she would only lose face and might even incur the old lady's dislike, making the future uncertain. If she didn't speak up, even if she couldn't harm the girl, people would know that she was useless—her fellow villager, someone who had been kind to her, couldn't even help her in her time of need. Who would dare be close to her then? Wouldn't she suffer for her in the future? Perhaps she would be worn down to death in just a few days.

Qin Xu listened and thought it made a lot of sense. He couldn't help but secretly admire Yun Ping's wisdom. It was hard to say whether it was wisdom or malice, but whether it was wisdom or malice, it would not do her any harm if the matter was accomplished. Moreover, she didn't need to do anything. She just had to put a little thought on the side. It was so easy that no one would suspect her.

Yunping thought so too. In fact, this was a foolproof plan. If used properly, it would be foolproof. In Yunping's plan, the cousin's role was to stay by the old lady's side and persuade her to let the matter rest as soon as possible. After all, everything leaves a trace. It's good to set fire to others, but it would be bad if it burned you.

Yunping had always thought that Miss Biao was a clever and capable person, and she was right about her. However, Qin Xu was just too excited that day.

Why would someone who is always arrogant and haughty know about a kitchen maid?

That's where things went wrong.

It can be said that Yunping was dragged down by Qin Xu.

Now that she's finished, if she wants to save herself, she has to drag Qin Xu along.

But her mother slapped her.

"That's Miss! How dare you implicate Miss? Are you crazy?"

Yes, Qin Xu is a young lady.

Maids and young ladies cannot be compared.

How can you compare them?

Liu Min had some guesses about what Qin Xu had done, while Old Madam Qin found out everything through questioning. The price Yun Ping paid for her wrongdoing was being sent to the countryside to be married off. What about Qin Xu?

Qin Xu was unharmed.

She was a cousin, an honored guest, and the apple of Old Madam Qin's eye. When she caused a arson incident at a relative's house, the relative not only didn't say a word of blame to her, but also had to try to cover for her. A daughter's good reputation is so precious!

Therefore, Yunping can't say anything more; if it does, it might even lose its last shred of dignity.

Yunping packed her things and sadly followed her mother home.

Qin Xu soon learned of Yunping's fate and couldn't help but panic.

The matter has already been exposed, and there's no reason for her to remain unscathed. Would Yunping really keep quiet for her? Then her great-aunt must already know, but why hasn't she come to find her? Day after day she waits, without any clue, and she can't help but wonder, could it be that Yunping really didn't implicate her? She wants to ask Yunping, but she's afraid of revealing her whereabouts, so she doesn't dare to go, not even to send someone to ask, for fear of making a scene and causing trouble even if there's nothing wrong. But this can't go on forever. Every time her great-aunt smiles at her, she feels that smile has a hidden meaning, and the hairs on her body stand on end.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I went over and stammered that I wanted to go home.

Her great-aunt asked her in surprise, "You've only been here a few days, why are you going back already? Is there something wrong?"

It's as if they really know nothing.

But how could that be?

She forced herself to admit that she had promised a friend that she would embroider a picture by hand as a birthday gift, but she got carried away having fun and forgot about it. The birthday was in a few days, and she had to hurry home to finish it.

Of course, her great-aunt wanted her to stay, saying, "Why go back? Is there a shortage of needles or thread here? Just stay here and keep this old lady company."

She naturally declined, saying that she had already finished half of it at home and it would be too much of a waste to start over. She suggested that it would be better to go back and continue. Fearing that her great-aunt might keep her there, she quickly added that she had also thought about asking someone to bring the one from home to finish, but she was afraid of messing up the thread and adding more setbacks. After thinking it over, she decided that going back home was the most appropriate course of action.

After she said that, her great-aunt did not stay any longer.

She practically escaped from the Liu residence.

Madam Qin didn't care.

To outsiders, Miss Biao's thoughts were obvious to everyone, but Old Madam Qin was unaware of them.

The reason they weren't on guard was because they thought it was impossible.

She didn't think her grandniece was exceptionally good or a rare treasure. It was just a matter of loving the house because of the family. She was a likable junior in her own family, so what was a little pampering? Being likable was one thing, but becoming her grandson's wife was another.

Her family was impoverished, none of them accomplished, except for her son, who was a top scholar in the imperial examinations, destined for high office and a promising future. She only had one grandson, so her granddaughter-in-law couldn't be an ordinary person. But he was still her brother, and she would naturally help him if the opportunity arose. If her precious grandson were truly interested, she would be happy to see it happen, but he wasn't, and seemed rather distant. So, she naturally wouldn't have considered that possibility. She thought about it seriously and concluded that her spoiled grandniece was jealous, feeling inferior to a mere girl, and that her older sister had lost face, hence her actions. She was still just a child. If she were to discuss something serious with her, she feared it would frighten her and damage her reputation; how could she bear to? She should learn a lesson, and that would be enough, after all, she was still young.

As for Shanlai, although she was wronged, there will be plenty of opportunities to make it up to her in the future. Of course, she will treat her well. In the end, all these things happened because this girl is too good. Even her usually picky grandson said nothing and liked her very much. She has a discerning eye for talent and only hopes that this hero can "die for one who understands him". Only then can she die in peace!

Yunping went home, and her vacant position was filled by a maid named Gantang from Biwutang.

Therefore, Ru Hui specifically sought out Shan Lai, first inquiring about Yao Yong's situation and offering a few words of comfort, and then...

“I’ve already talked to her about it. She’s very sensible, so you can rest assured.”

Shanlai didn't understand. What had happened before? And what he was saying seemed incoherent.

Now that things have come to this, Ru Hui feels there's nothing left to hide.

She smiled and said, "Yunping has a bad temper and likes to make things difficult for people. Who hasn't suffered at her hands? I heard that she once made you carry water?"

That did happen, but Liu Min stopped it, so it didn't come to fruition.

Therefore, Shanlai cannot be considered to have suffered under Yunping's hands.

At this point in the story, Shanlai was even more confused and asked in surprise, "What do you mean by being implicated by me?"

Ru Hui paused for a moment, realizing that Shan Lai might not know anything yet, so she smiled and told Shan Lai the whole story about the kitchen fire, of course, without omitting Qin Xu.

“Your fellow villager is gone, and Yunping has gone home to wait for her wedding. From now on, this place will be all yours. Sometimes I really envy people like you, truly born of the essence of heaven and earth, unlike us ordinary mortals. You don’t have to do anything; just your appearance can stir up a monstrous wave, engulfing countless people… Only in this way can one be considered to have truly lived! Fortunately, I have self-awareness…”

"I'm telling you this not for any other reason than to let you know that Yunping is gone, and the rest of us don't have any lofty ambitions, so we can definitely live peacefully and without incident, don't you think?"

Ru Hui said these things to show goodwill to Tong Shan.

With Yunping gone, the most triumphant person was Ru Hui. From then on, she could finally hold her head high and was no longer suppressed by anyone. However, there was still Shan Lai. But there was no need to worry. Shan Lai was different from Yunping. Not to mention that she didn't have the desire to be superior to others, even if she did, it was only natural for someone who was going to be half a master to be suppressed by her. There was nothing to fight over.

But that's not what Shanlai is concerned about.

She remained silent after hearing Ru Hui's words until Ru Hui could no longer sit still and was about to leave. Only then did she speak and ask Ru Hui, "Yun Ping went home to get married, so what about Miss Biao?"

Upon hearing this, Ru Hui laughed and asked in return, "What could Miss Biao possibly have to do with this?"

Yes, what could possibly be wrong with Miss Biao?

Shan Lai smiled knowingly.

How can a maid and a young lady be the same?

A servant is nothing more than an object; if you like her, you keep her by your side; if you don't like her, you toss her away. How can she compare to you, Miss? She is your own flesh and blood; to discard her would require excruciating pain, and cannot be treated lightly.

The suffering of being a slave.