When Fang Zhiyue's maid, Ju Rui, overheard her mistress's instructions, she broke out in a cold sweat.
Her eyes widened in terror, she trembled like a leaf, and stammered, "Miss, this servant...this servant wouldn't dare!"
You must do it!
Fang Zhiyue whispered a threat in her ear: "If you don't listen to me, I'll sell you to a brothel! You'll become a whore who's ridden by a thousand men and slept with by ten thousand!"
"Miss?!"
Ju Rui was immediately terrified and burst into tears. Her indenture was in the hands of her mistress, who usually beat and scolded her. If she were really sold into that filthy place, she would not be able to survive!
She bit her lower lip, glancing tearfully at the person sitting in the main seat, then at her own wife, her heart torn between two conflicting emotions.
Sitting nearby, Fang's mother noticed that her daughter had barely spoken since she came in, and looked over with a probing gaze.
Ju Rui looked at her with teary eyes as if she had seen a savior, hoping that the madam would notice her strangeness or give her some errands!
To everyone's surprise, Madam Fang only glanced at Ju Rui before frowning and asking Fang Zhiyue in a low voice, "What's going on? If you want to discipline your maid, you should wait until you're back in the manor. What kind of behavior is it for your maid to be crying and whining in someone else's home?!"
"Mother, don't be angry! Ju Rui just had an upset stomach and is crying and telling me she wants to go to the bathroom!" After saying that, Fang Zhiyue glared at Ju Rui fiercely.
"If she wants to go, she should go! She shouldn't embarrass herself at the banquet!"
"Yes, Mother!"
Fang Zhiyue helped Ju Rui up with a smile, pinching her hard with her fingers as she said coldly, "Ju Rui, go now!"
Ju Rui shuddered violently; her heart was filled with despair, and no one could save her now! She walked out, tears streaming down her face.
She was just a maid, and this little incident went unnoticed by anyone. Even Li Yunyan only glanced at her back from afar and raised an eyebrow slightly.
In the Xia residence, there is a large lotus pond. Every summer, the emerald green lotus leaves sway gracefully, and golden sunlight shines through the gaps between the leaves, creating layers of green hues. The water droplets rolling on the lotus leaves are crystal clear, and when they are sprinkled on the lake surface, they form shimmering arrows.
The lotus flowers in the pond are in full bloom, their delicate pink petals swaying gently in the breeze, emitting a faint fragrance that is intoxicating.
The servants of the Xia residence had already made all the necessary arrangements. Guests could enjoy tea and flowers in the pavilion or take a boat ride on the lake and have the most intimate contact with the beautiful scenery.
The scenery on the lake was so beautiful that many guests immediately boarded small boats together, eager to admire the beautiful flowers blooming in the center of the lake.
Xia Xiunian asked Li Yunyan in a low voice, "Yanyan, do you want to go and see? I'll go with you!"
Li Yunyan shook her head, "I'm too lazy to move, I'll just stay in the pavilion and look around!"
"Alright! I'll stay with you!"
"Um."
Fang's mother was also quite interested. She took Fang Zhiyue's hand and asked, "Zhiyue, you love flowers the most, why don't we go over together?"
"No!" Fang Zhiyue raised her hand to rub her temples. "Mother, I think I didn't sleep well last night and I feel a little dizzy. You and the aunts go!"
"Alright then! You stay by your aunt's side and don't run around!"
Hearing this, Xia's mother turned to look at Fang Zhiyue, then nodded to Fang's mother, "Sister-in-law, please go ahead. Zhiyue will stay with us in the pavilion!"
"Thank you for your help, sister. I'll be going now!"
Xia Xiunian and Li Yunyan stood up and gave her a slight bow, saying, "Auntie, you had a great time."
After Fang's mother left, only Xia's mother, Xia Xiunian, Li Yunyan, and Fang Zhiyue remained in the pavilion.
There wasn't enough room for many people inside the pavilion, so the servants stood guard outside, ready to be at their master's beck and call.
Fang Zhiyue finally had a chance to get close to them.
She walked gracefully over and bowed to the three of them, saying, "Aunt, Cousin, Cousin's wife."
Xia's mother turned around, her face full of satisfaction, "Zhiyue has grown up!"
Xia Xiunian didn't say anything. As soon as he saw Fang Zhiyue, he thought of the scene when she tried to extort money from him, and his face turned pale.
Li Yunyan returned the greeting gently, "Cousin."
Xia Xiunian hooked his arm around her waist, "You're so heavy, don't keep moving around!"
"Yes, Yan'er!" Xia's mother said with concern, "We're all family, there's no need to be so polite! Zhiyue won't mind!"
Fang Zhiyue forced a stiff smile, "Yes, cousin-in-law, you're pregnant now, and you're the eldest in the family, so you really need to take good care of yourself!"
Li Yunyan was just putting on an act. Since everyone had said so, she simply sat down and said gently, "I will listen to my mother and husband!"
"That's right!"
Xia's mother's face was full of love, and she was more and more satisfied with this daughter-in-law!
Xia Xiunian kept his arm around her waist, his face full of doting affection.
Fang Zhiyue was completely ignored.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she looked into the distance, thinking to herself: Why is Ju Rui so slow at getting things done?!
Finally, a servant boy with a flustered expression ran in from outside.
He ran to the outside of the pavilion and saw Xia Xiunian and the others inside. He hurriedly said, "Madam, Young Master, Young Madam, something terrible has happened! All the horses in the stable have run away!"
"What happened?"
The servant replied, "This servant doesn't know why, but all the horses in the backyard were properly tied up, but for some reason the ropes were all cut, the gate was opened, and many guests' carriages ran out!"
Xia's mother stood up. "What should we do! Those carriages were used by guests, and they might still have their valuables on them. They can't be lost!"
"Mother, don't worry! I'll go check on her!"
Xia Xiunian stood up and calmly instructed the servant, "Go to the front yard and tell Father that I will be there shortly!"
"Yes, young master!"
He then said to Li Yunyan, "Yanyan, I'll be leaving for a while. You wait for me in the pavilion. If you need anything, just tell the people below to do it. Don't worry about things outside!"
Li Yunyan nodded obediently, "I know, go ahead!"
When Xia Xiunian left, he took several people with him. Now, only a few servants and Li Yunyan and Xia's mother's personal maids and nannies remain near the pavilion.
A triumphant smile appeared on Fang Zhiyue's face.
Delay could lead to unforeseen problems! She needs to act quickly!
"aunt!"
She approached Xia's mother with a hint of panic, taking her arm as she always had, "I wonder what's going on outside? Zhiyue is a little scared!"
"Don't be afraid!"
Xia's mother patted her hand reassuringly, then glanced at Li Yunyan, who had been pushed aside by Fang Zhiyue.
Li Yunyan smiled gently at her, indicating that she was fine.
Just then, Fang Zhiyue suddenly slipped.
He fell headlong toward Li Yunyan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
