Gu Qinlian gestured to Yingxiang, who immediately opened the box in her hand. Inside were ten silver ingots, each weighing fifty taels, and the indenture was placed on top of the silver ingots.
Fuling smiled with satisfaction. "Very good, Madam has not disappointed me. Let's begin the transaction. I'll count to three, and we'll throw our items at each other together, shall we?"
Gu Qinlian said impatiently, "This is such a hassle. Hurry up, finish the transaction and leave. I don't want to stay in such an unlucky place any longer."
Fu Ling then began to count down loudly: "One, two, three, throw!"
However, the moment she finished speaking, Fuling did not immediately throw out the poison. Instead, she waited for Yingxiang to throw out the item first before confidently throwing the poison in her hand at her.
Both of them used all their skills, and the things they threw landed not far from each other.
When the box landed, the lid was shaken open, and Fuling quickly squatted down to pick it up.
However, upon picking it up, she immediately discovered a problem.
The silver was fake!
When she picked up the contract of sale again, she discovered that it was also a forgery!
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide with anger, and stared at Gu Qinlian: "You lied to me!"
After Yingxiang retrieved her belongings, Gu Qinlian burst into wild laughter: "I never thought you were so easily fooled, actually believing I would succumb to your threats. Fuling, Fuling, the more you try to escape the Ji family, the less I will let you have your way. Even I, the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, cannot escape this quagmire, so why should you, a mere maid, be able to! Moreover, you dared to use me; what right do you have!"
Surprisingly, Fuling laughed too: "You say I'm easily fooled, but aren't you the same? Take a good look at that thing, is that really what you're looking for?"
Gu Qinlian's expression suddenly changed, and she nervously glanced at the item in Yingxiang's hand.
Yingxiang also hurriedly examined the things in her hands.
This investigation was completely unexpected.
Gu Qinlian was furious, her face turning ashen. She angrily shouted, "Shameless scoundrel, how dare you deceive me!"
Fuling slammed the lid of the box to the ground, a cold smile playing on her lips: "You've never been sincere in the slightest. To be honest, I haven't deceived you; I've just taken precautions against your cunning. As long as the items you deliver are of good quality, I will naturally fulfill my promise and let you get what you covet."
Gu Qinlian gritted her teeth in anger, glaring at her with eyes as sharp as a venomous snake. "Hand over the things now, and I'll give you the silver and the indenture."
Fuling snorted coldly: "Do you think I'm stupid? You're so unpredictable, I'll never trust you again."
Gu Qinlian's tone was cold and hard: "I'm willing to double the money. If you insist on not complying, then don't blame me for being ruthless. We might as well die together!"
Fuling wavered: "But how can I make sure you won't deceive me again?"
Gu Qinlian took out two silver notes from her sleeve and unfolded them in front of her: "These are silver notes from CITIC Bank, they can't be fake."
Zhongxin Bank was the largest financial institution in the Western Wei Kingdom, backed by the imperial court, and no one dared to counterfeit its banknotes.
Fuling was relieved: "Alright, in that case, I'll give you the things."
After saying that, she turned and walked behind Madam Ji's grave, groping among the weeds.
Just as she turned to get something, Gu Qinlian gave Yingxiang a wink, signaling her to secretly get rid of Fuling.
Yingxiang shook her head frantically, her heart filled with terror.
How dare she!
Assisting Gu Qinlian in placing poison in Madam Ji's bedding had already kept Yingxiang awake at night, filled with fear. Even if she had a hundred times the courage, she wouldn't dare to kill someone herself.
Gu Qinlian threatened in a low voice, "What are you afraid of! Go now! Otherwise, I'll hand you over to the authorities immediately!"
Yingxiang almost burst into tears: "Miss, I really can't do it, I really don't dare."
Gu Qinlian impatiently pushed her towards Fuling.
Yingxiang stumbled and lunged at Fuling, her heart filled with struggle and helplessness. However, Fuling was already on high alert. When she heard footsteps rushing towards her, she quickly turned around, a cold glint of a dagger flashing in her hand.
"puff--"
Without hesitation, the dagger plunged into Yingxiang's abdomen.
Yingxiang looked down in disbelief at the exposed hilt of the knife in her abdomen, then glanced back at Gu Qinlian.
Upon seeing this, Gu Qinlian's first reaction was to angrily scold her for being useless: "How could you be so stupid! I've wasted my time raising you!"
Yingxiang was filled with sorrow; this was the master she had risked her life to protect.
A mouthful of blood spurted out, and Yingxiang's body slowly collapsed.
The world before her eyes gradually blurred, and on her deathbed, Yingxiang was filled with regret.
If she had chosen to follow the young lady back then, perhaps she could now have her own happiness, just like Fuyu and Hongye...
Filled with endless regret and remorse, Yingxiang closed her eyes forever.
Fuling was stunned by her own mistake. Looking at the blood on her hands, she was both shocked and frightened, and instinctively wanted to run away.
However, after running only a few steps, Gu Qinlian pounced on him fiercely.
"Trying to escape?"
Gu Qinlian grabbed her hair and roughly dragged her back. "You're the first person who dared to provoke and threaten me like this. How can I let you off so easily? Die!"
She straddled Fuling, viciously stretching out her hands, ready to mercilessly choke Fuling's throat.
For many years, Fuling remained a lowly maid, but the trials and tribulations of those years had made her strong and incredibly powerful. One day, she and Gu Qinlian got into a fierce fight.
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