Chapter 46 The mantis stalks the cicada
The dungeon was gloomy and chilly in broad daylight. The dungeon of the Xie Mansion used to be just a decoration. From the time Xie Changyun moved into this house to now, only a handful of people had been imprisoned in this dungeon.
Because it is dark and damp, it has long been a gathering place for rats and insects.
The torches brightened up the dungeon as it entered.
When the footsteps landed, tiny insects on the ground spread all around. Gu Xun walked in front, using a torch to disperse the insects on the ground.
As the light spread, Taoist Zhihui, who was locked in the innermost part, opened his eyes and covered them with his hands. It was not until the light got closer that he got used to the abundant light.
When he saw Xie Rongying standing outside the prison, Taoist Zhihui stumbled to his feet and stepped forward, shouting angrily, "I followed you here, and I'm willing to go to Kaifeng Prefecture to testify that it was Shangguan Yao who wanted to harm you. Why don't you let my grandson come to see me?!"
Xie Rongying looked at the slightly disheveled Taoist Zhihui, whose silver hair was disheveled, and smiled faintly: "When did I ever promise you to see your grandson?"
Taoist Zhihui's eyes turned cold, and he gripped the iron pillar of the cell tightly with both hands: "Are you kidding me!?"
Xie Rongying lowered her eyes slightly and smiled twice. When she raised her eyes, she stared at Taoist Zhihui with a cold look: "How can I play with someone who wants to kill me?"
"What are you going to do!?" Taoist Zhihui was visibly anxious: "Are you going to kill me!?"
Xie Rongying raised an eyebrow and ignored what Taoist Zhihui said. Instead, she pulled out a portrait she had drawn last night from her sleeve, unfolded the rice paper, and asked, "Have you seen the person in the portrait?"
Taoist Zhihui's expression changed slightly, but he began to calm down.
"Then I've met him." Xie Rongying became more and more certain of her suspicions. The Shangguan Yan far away in Longxi was the Shangguan Yan who had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country in the fourth year of Chengde. The smile on her lips grew deeper and deeper. "I received a favor from this person, so I was willing to take such a huge risk to come to Bianjing to help Shangguan Yao commit evil."
Taoist Zhihui stared at Xie Rongying intently and remained silent.
"You know where this person is." Xie Rongying said again.
Taoist Zhihui looked rather puzzled, and after a long pause he spoke, "What are you looking for the person in the painting for?"
"Just tell me what I want to know." Xie Rongying smiled deeply.
Taoist Zhihui sneered: "Why should I tell you?"
Xie Rongying smiled slightly, her expression relaxed: "I will threaten you with your grandson's life. Of course, you can sacrifice your grandson's life for the person in the portrait."
"If I tell you, will you let us go?" Taoist Zhihui smiled grimly. "Since we're all going to die, why should I tell you?"
Xie Rongying stared at Taoist Zhihui with a smile but did not say anything.
Taoist Zhihui's scalp tingled under Xie Rongying's gaze. He gritted his teeth and said, "Unless you let us, grandfather and grandson, leave."
"Where is this person in Longxi?" Xie Rongying's face gradually became cold.
As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps were heard again. Taoist Zhihui looked in the direction of the footsteps and saw a man standing in the dark holding his grandson, with a dagger in his hand pointed at the child's neck.
"Grandpa!" the child shouted loudly after seeing Taoist Zhihui.
Taoist Zhihui's hands began to tremble as he heard the mournful cry. His gaze suddenly fell on Xie Rongying: "I say, let him go! This child is innocent, he doesn't understand anything, and he has never done anything wrong!"
Xie Rongying laughed: "I knew that the Taoist priest was a sensible person."
"This person is in the northern part of Longxi. There is a mountain there called Fanchun Mountain. It is guarded and few people can get in. If the young lady wants to deal with this person's daughter, it will be difficult."
"Why?" Xie Rongying asked meaningfully.
Taoist Zhihui blurted out: "If the young lady doesn't believe it, you can go and try it."
Xie Rongying slowly put away the portrait, then took the torch from Gu Xun's hand. He glanced sideways at the person holding the child not far away, nodded slightly, and the person holding the child retreated.
She said, "Gu Xun, kill him and send his head to Shangguan Yao in the name of Shangguan Yan."
"You!" Taoist Zhihui's face changed. Who wants to die?
"Young Madam, Young Madam, I can go to Kaifeng Mansion and testify that it was Shangguan Yao who ordered me to do this. I can also prove to your husband what a vicious woman Shangguan Yao is. Please let me go!"
Xie Rongying, who was about to leave, looked at him again after hearing what Taoist Zhihui said.
"Why should I go to Kaifeng Prefecture and ask you to testify against Shangguan Yao?"
Taoist Zhihui was stunned. He thought Xie Rongying took him away because she wanted him to come forward and testify against Shangguan Yao's actions.
Xie Rongying was in a good mood: "I won't shoot myself in the foot."
There is more than just Shangguan Yan behind Shangguan Yao. Even if the Shangguan family is now charged with treason, it is for the people in high positions in Dayin.
If she blatantly dealt with Shangguan Yao just to get a momentary gratification.
The only ones who will suffer are her and the Xie family.
"Didn't you ask me to follow you so that I could testify against Shangguan Yao?" Taoist Zhihui was still in disbelief.
Xie Rongying snorted and laughed: "I asked you to come here just to let Shangguan Yao know that you died in my hands."
Zhihui's pupils trembled.
"Gu Xun, do it." Xie Rongying said with a gloomy expression and walked out of the dungeon.
——
The bloody head rolled to the ground, causing Xueqing's hands, which had just touched the brocade box, to tremble. She looked at Shangguan Yao and said, "Madam!"
"Go, go see if the young marquis has returned!"
Xue Qing finished speaking and stepped forward to help Shangguan Yao up: "Madam? Madam?"
Seeing that Shangguan Yao showed no signs of waking up, she was extremely panicked. She wanted to help Shangguan Yao onto the couch, but her eyes moved across the bloody head again. Her stomach churned, and she gritted her teeth and pinched Shangguan Yao's philtrum.
Shangguan Yao woke up in pain, her face pale and her brows furrowed.
"Madam, you're awake." Xue Qing said anxiously, "I'll help you to the young marquis's study first."
Before Shangguan Yao could react, Xueqing helped her stand up and walked outside.
As soon as I reached the door, I ran into Qin Junyi coming towards me.
"Young Marquis!" Xue Qing felt much more at ease when she saw Qin Junyi coming back.
Qin Junyi stepped forward and helped Shangguan Yao over: "Yao'er?"
"Junyi." Shangguan Yao was in Qin Junyi's arms, her eyes red: "I, I..."
After Qin Junyi returned home, he rushed to the courtyard. As soon as he walked through the gate, he saw Shangguan Yao's maid coming out in a panic. When she saw him coming back and talking incoherently, she knew what had happened.
"What happened?" Qin Junyi hugged Shangguan Yao in his arms and asked anxiously.
"Master Zhihui died at the hands of Xie Rongying." Xueqing saw Shangguan Yao was so frightened she didn't know what to say, so she said, "Xie Rongying even sent someone to deliver Master Zhihui's head to Madam as the Lord of Longxi."
The information in these two sentences was so shocking that Qin Junyi was stunned for a moment.
Qin Junyi stared at Xue Qing without blinking, and said coldly: "It seems that she really knows."
Knowing things that you shouldn’t know, what a Xie Rongying!
"Yao'er, don't be afraid. I'll find a way to solve this problem." Qin Junyi said as he picked up Shangguan Yao and walked towards the study. He then instructed Xueqing: "Go and have someone clean up the unlucky things."
"Yes." Xue Qing said and winked at the maid on the other end.
After Qin Junyi carried Shangguan Yao to the study, he placed her on the beauty couch and squatted down to look at Shangguan Yao, who was worried. "Yao'er, you don't have to worry about this matter. Xie Rongying knows that this matter is not a good thing for her."
"Junyi, I know what you want to say." Shangguan Yao frowned. "But the Xie family is also a clan that is highly valued by the government. Compared to our Shangguan family, I am worried that the government will really abandon us."
Qin Junyi comforted him: "How could that be? Don't worry, the emperor won't do that."
Shangguan Yao stared at Qin Junyi, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's all my fault. I overestimated my own abilities and wanted to embarrass Xie Rongying, which ultimately led to my downfall. If Dad knew, he would definitely not forgive me."
She stayed in Bian Jing for Qin Junyi, and Shangguan Yan repeatedly told Shangguan Yao to hide her identity and not to cause trouble for the emperor.
Bian Jing seems to be calm now, but the Queen Mother in the palace and the King of Wei have been keeping an eye on the Emperor.
If the Shangguan family's affairs were to be exposed, Shangguan Yao couldn't even imagine what would happen to the Guan family.
"Yao'er, this has nothing to do with you." Qin Junyi said softly, "Xie Rongying was originally married by mother to help support our mansion, but now Xie Rongying is obviously a disobedient person. Mother has long wanted to deal with Xie Rongying."
"But now Xie Rongying knows about our family's affairs." Shangguan Yao said pitifully, "Sending Taoist Zhihui's head to me is a warning to me."
"Yao'er, I will take responsibility for you." Qin Junyi held Shangguan Yao in his arms and continued to comfort her: "Don't worry."
"Jun Yi." Shangguan Yao originally wanted to enter the mansion and rely on Xie Rongying's reputation of being possessed by evil spirits to make Xie Rongying live in a daze. After Jiang settled the affairs of the Yongyi Marquis Mansion, the position of the mistress of the mansion would be hers.
Plans really can't keep up with changes.
"I want to see the emperor, but he won't see me." Shangguan Yao took Jiang's words to heart, but there was no news from the palace. "Can you let the emperor know about this through the prince?"
"I will find a way, Yao'er, don't worry. You are still in the confinement period, so don't be too anxious." Qin Junyi felt really distressed when he saw Shangguan Yao's worry.
At this time, Xue Qing walked in: "Young Marquis, Madam, everything is packed."
Qin Junyi stood up and said to Xueqing, "Take good care of the Madam. I'll go to the North Courtyard."
"Yes." Xue Qing bowed respectfully.
After Qin Junyi left, Shangguan Yao's expression changed. She glared at Xueqing coldly and asked, "Is there a rumor circulating in Bianjing that Junyi and I are already pregnant?"
Xueqing lowered her head and didn't dare to speak.
Shangguan Yao snorted coldly: "What a Xie Rongying! I really underestimated her!"
"Madam, what should we do next?" Xue Qing asked worriedly.
Shangguan Yao's eyes were dark, and her voice was indifferent: "I just need to firmly grasp Qin Junyi's heart. As for dealing with Xie Rongying, there will naturally be someone else."
"What about the official?" Xue Qing said hesitantly.
Shangguan Yao raised her eyes and met Xue Qing's gaze. "The emperor doesn't want to see me because my presence in Bianjing is not what the emperor wants to see. However, the emperor remembers the contributions of the Shangguan family and tolerates my presence in Bianjing. Therefore, I can no longer enter the palace to meet the emperor in my father's name."
She paused for a moment and continued, "But if Qin Junyi reported this to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince then passed it on to the Emperor, then things would be different. Xie Rongying dared to pry into the Emperor's secrets; she truly doesn't know how to live or die!"
"As long as Madam knows her limits, I will be relieved."
Shangguan Yao smiled faintly: "Has Jiang's company made any preparations?"
"I heard that he has been very close to Madam Xue from the Duke of England's Mansion these past two days." Xue Qing said.
Shangguan Yao seemed to understand something when she heard this and sneered, "We can just watch the show."
——
North Courtyard.
As Qin Junyi walked into the courtyard, he heard conversation coming from the main room. He slowed down his pace and happened to meet Mother Yuan coming out of the small kitchen.
"Young Marquis." Seeing Qin Junyi approaching with a tray in hand, Madam Yuan immediately said, "Madam is meeting a guest."
Qin Junyi stopped and said, "Then I'll go see mother later."
"Is Junyi back?" Jiang's voice came from the main room.
Upon hearing this, Qin Junyi could only walk into the main hall.
Jiang, who was sitting in the main seat, saw Qin Junyi walk in and introduced him to Madam Xue: "Madam Xue, this is my eldest son, Junyi. Come and meet Madam Xue."
Qin Junyi stepped forward, bowed to Madam Xue and Madam Jiang, and said, "Greetings, mother. Greetings, Madam Xue."
"Madam Qin is truly blessed." Madam Xue looked Qin Junyi up and down and joked, "You have such a handsome son, but I only heard Madam Qin mention the eldest son. Isn't the youngest son at home?"
Jiang sighed, "My youngest son is seventeen years old this year and is still studying hard at Lushan Academy. He only comes home to stay for a day or two at the end of the year."
Hearing this, Madam Xue's eyes were filled with envy: "Madam Qin is truly blessed to have two sons who are so successful."
"They are all disobedient. I am sorry to make you laugh." Jiang naturally liked to hear others praise her son. As she spoke, she looked at Qin Junyi and said with a smile: "Junyi, the Queen Mother will hold a peach blossom banquet at Yunwu Manor in two days. Go and bring Rongying back. We will go together."
"Yes, young master." Madam Xue raised her eyebrows. "Yesterday I went to Kaibao Temple and mentioned this matter to the eldest princess. She will also be there and specifically mentioned your young mistress. You must bring her along."
Qin Junyi and Jiang exchanged a glance before saying, "Yes, I will definitely bring Xie to the banquet."
Mrs. Xue received a satisfactory answer and stood up to say goodbye: "Mrs. Qin, I have delivered the message for the eldest princess. It is getting late and it is time to leave."
"Auntie Yuan, please see Madam Xue off." Jiang stood up to see her off.
Madam Xue nodded and said, "Madam, please stay. Madam Yuan can take me away."
After Mother Yuan and Madam Xue left, the main room became quiet.
Qin Junyi asked, "Mother, what does this Madam Xue mean?"
"What do you mean?" Jiang sneered, "Of course, her eldest niece's suffering cannot be let go."
When Qin Junyi heard this, he felt happy but also had an inexplicable emotion in his heart.
"Take your things and go to the Xie family. Have a good talk with Xie Rongying. Be submissive and endure your father-in-law's scolding." Jiang said, her lips curled up in a smile. "If you want to be with Shangguan Yao and deal with Xie Rongying, you have to make a good effort this time."
Qin Junyi's eyes changed slightly: "Yes."
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