Chapter 6: Can't Let This Face Go to Waste

This young widow was truly outstanding in appearance. Based on Madam Liu’s understanding of the men in the He family, she would undoubtedly stir up trouble within the household.

The two old things in the family were dead set on Zhang being the eldest daughter-in-law. Even though she, Madam Liu, had contributed greatly to the He family, they insisted on handing the management of the household affairs to Zhang. For the past few years, she had been forced to live under Zhang’s overbearing thumb, feeling truly stifled.

He Xu was a lecher. As long as he fell into the trap that was the Lin woman, Zhang would surely dig her own grave.

As expected, he hadn't just fallen for it; he had fallen for it quite smoothly!

It was just that Madam Liu had never expected that before she could even flex her muscles, He Xu would be dead!

After all, she was the one who had brought the Lin woman in. If there were any repercussions, she wouldn't be able to clear her name.

She began to press her: "This was a matter that could have been settled privately between the two families. Who would have thought that the Madam would actually send someone to report it to the authorities!"

"The officials will certainly come. You were brought in by me; if they uncover anything that implicates me, I will be the first to show you no mercy!"

Yuetang raised her lips again: "Madam, rest assured. How could this servant have the gall to do such a thing?"

Madam Liu nodded: "It’s good that you know."

Yuetang stepped forward to massage her temples, while watching the pearls and emeralds adorning her hair in the mirror opposite: "This is Heaven helping you, Madam. Now, without the slightest effort, the power of the household has fallen into your hands. You shouldn't be worried, but rather happy."

These words struck a chord with Madam Liu. She looked at Yuetang in the mirror: "I am indeed very happy."

With the couple of the eldest branch both dead, she had become the biggest winner in this lawsuit!

Now, it was time for her to do something else.

She took hold of Yuetang’s hand and made her sit down: "I forgot to ask, how old are you? Not yet twenty, right?"

"I just turned nineteen in the seventh month."

Madam Liu smiled. She patted the back of her hand: "So young. Have you thought about your future? Look at our He manor, such a vast estate. Then look at the concubines in our house—each one free from worry, dressed in gold and jade. Do you envy them?"

Yuetang paused, then smiled and said: "I envy them to the extreme."

Madam Liu puffed out her chest: "Last night in the eldest branch’s quarters, I saw the Second Master paying quite a bit of attention to you. How about this: shall I act as a matchmaker for you and our Second Master?"

When she saw He Hui unable to take his eyes off this young widow at the scene of his elder brother’s death, a trace of regret had sprouted in Madam Liu’s heart.

Letting a disaster like the Lin woman into the manor to stir up trouble was clearly drinking poison to quench thirst.

If He Xu could fall for a beauty trap, He Hui would naturally be unable to avoid the pit.

The second branch already had enough troublesome matters.

And how could she let an outsider like the Lin woman, who had just entered the manor, hold the secret of her hand in the eldest branch’s demise?

This young widow could absolutely not be kept around.

But Madam Liu was not a fool like Zhang, who only knew how to throw tantrums.

She wanted to kill two birds with one stone and use this young widow to the fullest.

"The Second Master?"

Yuetang’s expression was faint.

Madam Liu raised an eyebrow: "What? Are you unwilling?"

Speaking of this, she reined in her expression and said languidly: "You do have a bit of beauty, but you are already a broken flower and a wilted willow. Surely you don't still think you can hold out for a better price and fly up to the branches to become a phoenix?"

"Now that the household management is in my hands, with me, the mistress of the house, protecting you and ordering you to serve the master, that is the greatest blessing you could ever hope to grasp. If you go to another family, don't even think about getting such benefits."

"Madam’s care is something this servant is naturally grateful for, but Madam’s care also makes this servant feel fearful and uneasy."

Yuetang looked at the vanity box under the mirror.

The four corners of this box were inlaid with carved red gold patches, just like the gold hairpins and jewel-encrusted hair ornaments on Madam Liu’s head—all from the top-tier goldsmiths in the city.

Madam Liu paused and held her tea: "To tell you the truth, I do have a task to arrange for you."

Bringing this up at such a moment would indeed make people suspicious.

However, this young widow was already under her control, so there was no harm in speaking plainly.

"The Second Master has taken in two vixens in the past few years, and his heart is entirely focused on them, to the point that he has neglected his own advancement. If you can find a way to help the Second Master, to make him turn back from his wayward path, that would also be helping me."

"So that is how it is." Yuetang raised her eyebrows slightly.

Madam Liu knew she understood. She felt gratified by her sharpness: "I believe that with your abilities, accomplishing this will be easy."

The night the He family received the order to intercept and kill Princess Yongjia as she returned to the capital late at night, she happened to overhear it.

The relatives of the Marquis of Guangling—the Jingyang Prince’s Mansion, which had guarded the border for three generations since being enfeoffed—were returning to the capital to assist in government by imperial decree.

About to possess a great backer, the Marquis of Guangling finally made up his mind to seize the position of the Commander of the Imperial City Guard.

But He Jianzhong said that the late Emperor had an edict: even if Prince Duan abdicated, the Imperial City Guard would still be managed by his successor.

At that time, Prince Duan’s heir, the elder brother of Princess Yongjia, had already passed away from illness a year prior.

Later, the late Emperor specially permitted Princess Yongjia to take a husband, and the offspring born could become the heir to the Prince Duan’s Mansion.

Therefore, once the Princess’s child grew up, the position of Commander of the Imperial City Guard would still slip out of the Marquis of Guangling’s hands in the future.

Moreover, simply killing Prince Duan would not suffice; Princess Yongjia would surely investigate the matter thoroughly upon returning to the capital to avenge him.

Thus, the Marquis of Guangling decided to go all the way and kill Princess Yongjia as well.

But He Jianzhong was worried. The Princess was surrounded by experts, and she herself had been taught by famous masters since childhood; it would not be easy to succeed in one stroke.

Furthermore, this operation had to be kept secret; not a single whisper could leak out, and no traces could be left behind.

So, when she was discovered eavesdropping by the He father and son, and saw the wariness in their eyes, she immediately volunteered, proposing that she could use the convenience of her cousin’s position in the Prince’s Mansion to go and scout for information.

She successfully obtained the exact time of Princess Yongjia’s return to the city from the female official of the Prince’s Mansion’s Bureau of Adornment.

Subsequently, a large group of people led by the He and Zhang families calculated the Princess’s route based on this return time.

Although Madam Liu did not lead the team to kill, she had made a great contribution and received many rewards.

For instance, the pearls and emeralds on her head, the silks in her trunks, the savings in the bank, and the pardon for her younger brother’s crimes.

Outsiders would never know that she had gained so much for participating in the murder of Princess Yongjia.

But she herself had never expected that the reward money she earned through her merits would be squandered by that spendthrift He Hui on debauchery!

It wasn't enough for him to run wild outside; he kept bringing people into the manor one after another!

She had endured it for three years.

Since the Lin woman had such a face, why waste it?

She wanted to make the Lin woman a blade in her hand to wipe out those two vixens in the inner courtyard.

And once the Lin woman succeeded, it would be easy for her, as the mistress, to find an opportunity to grind her to death.

"But the elder brother is dead. According to the rules, the Second Master is in 'Zhai Cui' mourning, which requires three months of observance. If the Master and Madam, who are already in grief, find out, the Second Master won't have a good end."

"Not to mention if outsiders catch wind of it and report it, the Master will also be implicated. Is the Second Madam not concerned about that?"

"If you don't say it, and I don't say it, who would know about what happens behind closed doors?" Madam Liu laughed sinisterly.

He Hui had gained the advantage; he was even less likely to go around shouting about it.

Even if the two old things found out, they wouldn't beat their only remaining son to death, would they?

Yuetang nodded: "Madam is far-sighted."

Madam Liu set down her cup: "The Second Master has been busy since last night and is still at the public office. He will surely need someone to serve him when he returns."

"Go now. Serve him well."

"He practices martial arts, so he might be a bit rough in bed, but you are an experienced woman, so there is no need to be coy."

"Once you have served him well, come to my room. I will reward you properly and get you new clothes and jewelry."

"I will let you enjoy a life of luxury."

Enjoy a life of luxury in the grave!

Wang Er, the coachman brought from the Liu family, had plenty of strength. After the deed was done, she would let him handle it.

She would ensure it was done cleanly, and from then on, she could sleep soundly.

Yuetang watched her and smiled.

Just then, a maid walked in from outside: "Madam! Someone has come from the public office! According to protocol, they are going to inspect the scene and interrogate the relevant people. The Master wants you to go to the eldest branch immediately to await orders!"

Madam Liu frowned, then looked at Yuetang.

Yuetang stood up: "It is no matter. Madam, you are busy; you can just let Nanny Li lead me over."