Chapter 173 Kidnapping Ayao
Meng Jinyao went to the ancestral hall again to offer incense to her birth mother, Zhou.
She knelt on the prayer mat, her expression blank, her head slightly tilted back, quietly looking at Zhou's memorial tablet without saying a word.
Ningdong and Qingqiu also knelt on the prayer mats on either side of her. Seeing her unusually quiet appearance, the two were very worried, but they knew that no amount of comforting words would help. Their mistress needed to stay quiet.
They originally thought that Madam Sun was just a vicious stepmother, but who would have thought that Madam Sun and the Earl had an affair and that Madam Sun died prematurely. No wonder that even though they were not biological children, Madam Sun treated their master worse than the second young master.
That's the reason.
If the master hadn't come to Lingyun Temple to offer incense today, and after that sickly old woman passed away, the master probably would never have known this secret in his entire life.
As the sun sets, the light inside the Rebirth Hall grows dimmer, and the last ray of sunlight that shone into the hall has disappeared.
Just as Qingqiu and Ningdong were about to persuade her to return to her room, Meng Jinyao suddenly spoke up: "Let's go back, it's getting dark."
Qingqiu and Ningdong were stunned for a moment, then responded, slowly stood up, moved their legs to relax, and then reached out to help Meng Jinyao up.
Meng Jinyao stood up. Because she had been kneeling for too long, her knees were tired and sore. She stumbled and almost fell as soon as she took a step. With Qingqiu and Ningdong supporting her, she was able to steady herself.
Qingqiu said, "Madam, please be careful."
Meng Jinyao nodded slightly, then dragged her slow and heavy steps away from the Hall of Rebirth, heading towards her room.
Seeing her preoccupied and lost in thought, Qingqiu and Ningdong knew she was upset. The two maids hesitated several times before finally remaining silent and following behind her.
Back in her room, Ningdong went to the dining hall to get her vegetarian meal.
Qingqiu inadvertently noticed several dark red crescent-shaped marks on Meng Jinyao's palm. Her expression froze. Those were cuts made by fingernails, and the blood that had seeped out had congealed, turning dark red. They looked particularly shocking on Meng Jinyao's fair and delicate palm, and even her fingernails were stained with blood.
Whenever he couldn't control his emotions or was overly grief-stricken, the master would act like this. Back then, when the master was just a child, he clearly hated Sun Shi so much that he wanted to tear her blood and eat her flesh, but he had to endure it and pretend that he knew nothing.
Several times, looking at Sun's hypocritical face, I almost couldn't help but expose her plot to harm my illegitimate son. I always managed to stay sober by hurting myself, so as not to ruin things because of a moment of anger and continue to act with Sun. Over time, this became a habit.
After a short while, Qingqiu silently turned and went out, and soon came back with a basin of clean water.
Qingqiu said gently, "Madam, this servant will help you wash your hands."
Meng Jinyao was stunned for a moment, then opened her palm and lowered her eyes. When she saw her masterpiece in her palm, she was stunned again, and a hint of annoyance flashed in her eyes.
Qingqiu dampened a clean handkerchief, intending to wipe the bloodstains from Meng Jinyao's hands, but unexpectedly saw her put her hands directly into the basin to wash them, seemingly unconcerned that the wound would hurt from getting wet.
Startled, Qingqiu gasped softly, "Madam..."
"I'm fine."
Meng Jinyao remained calm, as if she felt no pain, and carefully cleaned the dried blood from her fingernails.
Seeing this, Qingqiu softly called out to her, "Madam."
Meng Jinyao said calmly, "Qingqiu, we will return to the manor tomorrow morning." After saying that, she took the handkerchief from Qingqiu's hand and wiped her hands.
Qingqiu nodded hesitantly: "Alright, this servant will go and ask the monks at the temple if they have any medicine to treat the wound."
Meng Jinyao replied, "No need to trouble yourself, it's nothing, it's not a big deal."
Qingqiu: "But..."
Meng Jinyao interrupted her, "I'm fine."
Qingqiu looked at the wound on her palm. Fortunately, the wound was shallow and seemed to be nothing serious, so she nodded obediently.
Not long after, Ningdong returned with the vegetarian meal.
Now it was just the three of them, mistress and servants, with no outsiders present. Meng Jinyao asked them to sit down and eat with her, and Qingqiu and Ningdong did not refuse.
The vegetarian food at Lingyun Temple was quite good, but Meng Jinyao felt suffocated and had little appetite. She only ate a couple of bites before putting down her chopsticks.
Seeing that the bowl of rice hadn't been touched much, Ningdong urged, "Madam, please eat more. What if you ruin your health by eating so little? I know you're feeling unwell, but if you ruin your health, wouldn't that be exactly what Madam Sun wants?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao ate a few more mouthfuls of rice, then put down her bowl and chopsticks.
Seeing this, Qingqiu and Ningdong exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly. They suddenly realized that at this moment, their words might not be as effective as the Marquis's. If the Marquis were here, that would be great. They wondered how the Marquis could soothe people. Even if the lady was in a bad mood, talking to the Marquis for a while would always make her feel much more relaxed.
The moon rises high above the treetops, and the stars shine brightly.
The temple was very quiet at night, with only the chirping of summer insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind. The summer breeze was gentle and refreshing.
Meng Jinyao strolled leisurely through the temple, with Qingqiu and Ningdong following behind her. The three of them did not speak, but simply walked quietly.
Suddenly, a noise came from nearby. Meng Jinyao stopped and listened intently.
Qingqiu and Ningdong naturally heard the commotion as well.
Qingqiu said, "Madam, there is the sound of weapons clashing; it sounds like people are fighting."
Ning Dong was astonished: "Such a thing can happen in a sacred Buddhist site?"
Meng Jinyao frowned and said calmly, "Even the Buddhist community has its share of unrest. Let's go back first and not meddle in other people's business."
Qingqiu and Ningdong responded and followed their master's steps, quickly leaving, as it would be very dangerous for the three of them, being weak women, to witness such a thing.
However, plans can't keep up with changes, and the more you try to avoid something, the more likely you are to get away with it.
A man dressed in red and green, who appeared to be in his early twenties, leaped down from the wall and appeared in front of Meng Jinyao in a flash, holding a long sword to her neck.
The incident happened suddenly; a calamity struck without warning, leaving Meng Jinyao stunned before she could react.
Upon seeing this, Qingqiu and Ningdong turned pale with fright and exclaimed in shock, "Madam!"
Meng Jinyao's arm was grabbed, and a sharp sword was held across her neck. She felt a chill on her neck, and if the person's hand trembled, she would die. She was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she dared not move an inch. She did not want to die yet because she had not avenged her great enemy.
The man, holding Meng Jinyao hostage, said to the people who had just arrived, "Get back, or I'll kill her!"
Upon hearing this, Qingqiu and Ningdong instinctively took several steps back. Qingqiu hurriedly pleaded, "Young master, please don't hurt my lady."
"Hua Lingxiao, release this lady at once, or today will be your death day!"
An angry voice came from behind.
The two maids turned around and saw several men dressed as constables staring nervously at the man behind them. If that was the case, then the man who had taken their mistress hostage must be a criminal.
The next moment, another man leaped down from the wall. When Ning Dong saw the man's familiar figure, her eyes lit up and she cried out urgently, "My lord, please save the lady!"
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