Zheng Yutang slowly stood up, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Since you won't let me have an easy time, then I'll ruin your reputation and make you... die!"
She knew that from this moment on, she was no longer the second young lady who would only hide behind her mother and act spoiled. At this moment, Zheng Yutang's heart was filled with only jealousy and revenge.
[Darkening in progress! Zheng Yutang's gaze is incredible, she's about to unleash her ultimate attack!]
The Lin family's scheming is as thick as a city wall!
[Even with Minister Zheng so ill, this mother and daughter still cause trouble; they're utterly depraved!]
Zheng Yutang stood in the shadows in the distance, and the night wind dried the traces of her tears.
She walked back in a daze, and when she got to the door, she saw Granny Sun who was about to go out. When Granny Sun saw Zheng Yutang return, she hurriedly bowed.
"Miss, Madam has been looking for you everywhere. You're finally back."
"I'm back." Zheng Yutang looked in the direction of her father's house, where a dim light was still on. She was about to turn back when her mother, Lin Shi, and her own words echoed repeatedly in her mind.
"You have to strike first!" All of this tangled up in her mind, almost suffocating her. Zheng Yutang understood that she had to do everything in her power.
Even if not for her mother, she should think of herself. Yes, Lin has a grandson named Sanlang, and she can live happily ever after with him in the future. It's just that she herself is pitiful.
Zheng Yutang walked forward blankly, like a lost soul, her fists clenched tightly, muttering to herself, "Why! Why does Zheng Heyi have everything? And I have to pick up what others have left over?"
She muttered to herself, her nails digging deep into her palms, "Princess status! Father's favor! Even Gu Minghe..." Thinking of Gu Minghe's attentiveness to Zheng Heyi and his indifference towards her at the flower viewing banquet, Zheng Yutang's jealousy burned even brighter.
That wasn't just simple appreciation; it was a tenderness and love she had never received before.
[But we still have to feel sorry for the second young lady for a second!]
This turn of events happened too quickly, but the groundwork laid beforehand was sufficient and it makes sense!
Is Sun Sanlang about to make his appearance? This gambling den thug doesn't sound like a good guy!
Zheng Yutang returned to her courtyard in a daze. As soon as she stepped inside, Madam Lin rushed out from the inner room and excitedly grabbed her wrist.
Her grip was so tight it almost crushed Zheng Yutang's bones. She looked into her eyes and demanded, "Where have you been all this time? Have you thought through what I told you?"
Lin's eyes gleamed in the candlelight like a greedy viper. "We can't wait any longer with Gu Minghe. If your father really gives all the family's wealth to Zheng Heyi, then my daughter and I will be completely finished!"
Zheng Yutang's wrist was squeezed so hard it hurt terribly.
She abruptly shook off her hand: "Mother! She doesn't like me at all! The only reason she was nice to me before was because I was Father's darling and the apple of the eye of the Minister's family. But now that Zheng Heyi has become a little princess, this fence-sitter has sided with Zheng Heyi."
At this point, Zheng Yutang became even more grief-stricken, saying sadly, "Besides, Gu Minghe doesn't like me at all. Even if... even if we succeed, what then?"
Lin's voice was fierce, "What do you know!? Men, especially those like Gu Minghe who value power, once they've slept together, will he deny it? By then, you'll be the young mistress, holding the money you got from the Minister's mansion, what are you afraid of him causing trouble?"
This wasn't the first time Madam Lin had reminded her daughter of these words. She leaned closer to Zheng Yutang, deftly pulled a small oil paper packet from her sleeve, and tossed it in front of Zheng Yutang.
"Here you go! You brat, take this."
"What is this?" Zheng Yutang looked at the oil paper package in confusion.
"This is the 'Yin-Yang Harmony Powder.' It is colorless and tasteless. Just add it to his food and you'll be sure to obey him in the future."
[Holy crap! This medicine's name alone sounds ominous! Where did the Lin family get it?]
【Zheng Yutang, wake up! This is like drinking poison to quench your thirst!】
If Gu Minghe found out, wouldn't he grind them to dust?
Zheng Yutang stared at the packet of powdered medicine, her fingers trembling uncontrollably. Upon opening it, the white powder resembled flour in the candlelight, but it exuded an ominous aura.
Zheng Yutang leaned closer and sniffed it; indeed, there was no smell.
“But! How can I get the young master to eat it without any suspicion? He refuses to see me at all…” Zheng Yutang’s voice was tinged with fear and hesitation.
The resentment in her heart and the fear of the future were locked in a fierce battle in her mind. A sly glint flashed in Lin's eyes, and she chuckled like a fox.
"You don't need to worry about that. I've already asked Sun Sanlang to make the arrangements. In a few days, there will be a prayer ceremony at Bao'en Temple in the east of the city. Gu Minghe is known for his filial piety and will definitely go to pray for the old Duke. You can find an excuse to approach him then, and the opportunity will come."
Lin patted Zheng Yutang's hand with a smile, her tone full of confidence, and every word she spoke was seductive.
"Yutang, this is our only chance. Think about it, if Zheng Heyi continues to occupy the position of princess, you will only be able to live in her shadow for the rest of your life!"
"Zheng Heyi!" These three words were like a knife, stabbing hard into Zheng Yutang's heart, making it painful for her to even breathe.
She remembered Zheng Heyi's always nonchalant demeanor, and how she could obtain everything she dreamed of without lifting a finger, which fueled her burning jealousy.
“Okay, Mother, I’ll listen to you this time!” Zheng Yutang no longer hesitated. She snatched the oil paper package and held it tightly in her hand. At this moment, she had clearly grasped a lifeline.
"But Mother, that Sun Sanlang you mentioned... is he really reliable?"
Lin lowered her voice and reminded him, "Don't worry, Sanlang has people on his side and he's efficient. That little bitch Zheng Heyi is blocking our way, so we have to make her disappear! Once she's dead, the relationship with the Princess's Mansion will be severed, and Gu Minghe will naturally have no choice but to look to you."
Lin's tone was cold and calm.
She spoke of the murder-for-hire deal as if it were a trivial matter. Zheng Yutang, however, was shocked and looked at her mother in astonishment: "Mother! What? You...you actually...you're going to kill someone?"
Although Zheng Yutang hated Zheng Heyi intensely, she never intended to take her life. After all, she was a living, breathing human being, her nominal sister.
Most importantly, a life for a life, a debt for a debt—there are no secrets that stay hidden forever. Moreover, Zheng Heyi was a monarch appointed by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and most importantly, she had a very close relationship with Jiang Shu.
If something were to happen to her in the future, and these people got involved in the investigation, wouldn't she and her mother be doomed? The more Zheng Yutang thought about it, the more panicked she became.
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