Chapter 214 – Scheming Against Yan Shujing
What a wastrel, a real wastrel.
Under Ms. Wang’s withering gaze, Yan Xiaosi ate her fill with great relish, her belly stuffed full.
She had eaten a lot of cured meat and drank a large bowl of rice wine, as blissful as an immortal.
After the meal, she noticed the sky was about to turn dark.
This late already, she wondered if that War King would proceed as planned.
Yan Xiaosi burped contentedly, setting down her bowl and chopsticks. She licked the pork grease from the corner of her mouth and said to Tian Dazhuang, “I ate too much, Brother Dazhuang, let’s take a stroll around the village.”
A stroll was just an excuse – her real aim was to investigate the situation at the Yan household.
Tian Dazhuang guessed her intentions, replying with an “Mmm” as he quickly set down his utensils. “Xiaosi, let’s go.”
Ms. Wang glanced at the three empty bowls on the table, then at Yan Xiaosi’s protruding belly as she walked, seething to the point of wanting to smash the table.
This little wretch could really pack it away.
Seeing Ms. Wang’s incensed clearing of the bowls, Yan Xiaosi felt a tinge of apology. Smiling at her, she said, “Auntie Tian, go ahead and tidy up. Brother Dazhuang and I will be back to see you later.”
If not for that bright smile, perhaps Ms. Wang wouldn’t have felt so aggrieved.
“Get lost and don’t come back!”
Seeing Ms. Wang’s enraged state, Yan Xiaosi laughed heartily as she headed out.
Truthfully, Ms. Wang was far more likable than those at the Yan household. Though acerbic in personality and unforgiving no matter right or wrong, Ms. Wang always wore her dissatisfactions on her face, unlike the Yans who resorted to underhanded tricks behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, at the Yan residence:
“Young sir, who are you looking for?” asked the gatekeeper upon seeing the talented and well-dressed Long Yi, not daring to offend him casually.
Long Yi had been dispatched to the Yan household by Long Yu’s orders.
He glanced at the gatekeeper impassively. “I am a guard of General Zhan. My lord wishes to meet your family’s eldest young lady Yan Shujing. Please have her go wait at the foot of Four Sisters Mountain tonight.”
The gatekeeper’s face lit up upon hearing this. “The General Zhan from Xijing?”
Long Yi nodded, “Indeed.”
“I’ll go inform the young lady right away.”
Seeing the excited gatekeeper turn to notify Yan Shujing, Long Yi added a reminder.
“My lord only wishes to see the Yan family’s young lady. There’s no need for extras to tag along.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll report it directly to the young lady.”
The gatekeeper was so excited he nearly tripped on his way to the rear courtyard, almost colliding into Old Master Yan who was taking an evening stroll.
If the eldest young lady could attach herself to the great general from Xijing, even lowly servants like themselves would bask in that glory – how could he not be thrilled?
“What’s all this rushing about?” came Old Master Yan’s displeased voice, finally halting the gatekeeper’s flustered steps.
Excitedly, the gatekeeper reported, “Master, a messenger from the general from Xijing has arrived, saying he wishes to see the eldest young lady.”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Yan’s expression changed instantly. He thought Long Yu had come to settle the score after Yan Shujing’s previous seduction attempt at the county court.
“What exactly did the messenger say?”
“Master, you need not worry. I observed that the guard delivering the general’s message had a very cordial manner. Perhaps the general has taken a liking to the young lady and intends to take her as his lady.”
Only then did Old Master Yan breathe a sigh of relief. But he quickly furrowed his brow once more.
It would certainly be good if that War King had set his sights on Shujing. However, Shujing had already lost her virginity to those two beasts at the county court.
Recalling how the Yan household had painstakingly cultivated this refined young lady with tremendous effort and money, only for her to be defiled by those two beasts, Old Master Yan’s teeth ground together in rage.
“Quickly notify the young lady to prepare properly and go meet the War King.”
Though inwardly anxious that Long Yu might discover Yan Shujing was no longer a maiden, Old Master Yan could not bear to let this prime opportunity to curry favor with an influential figure from Xijing slip by.
“Yes, Master.”
The servant acknowledged and hurriedly went to summon Yan Shujing.
Yan Shujing’s room was tightly shut. Ever since being violated by those two, she had locked herself in daily.
“Young lady…” The servant had barely spoken before Yan Shujing’s irate roar came from inside.
“Scram! Tell grandfather and grandmother I would rather die than marry Tian Dazhuang!”
Startled, the servant steadied himself before replying, “Young lady, it’s good news – the general from Xijing has sent a messenger.”
The door creaked open, and Yan Shujing stood there, her reddened eyes fixing on the servant as she asked urgently, “What does the general want his messenger here for?”
The servant quickly responded, “The messenger said the general wishes to meet you, young lady. He asks that you go wait at the foot of Four Sisters Mountain tonight. The master instructs you to prepare properly.”
“Is this true?” Yan Shujing could scarcely believe her ears. But once assured she had heard correctly, the anger on her face melted away, replaced by excited smiles and a hint of smug triumph.
Ms. Hu had schemed to marry her off to Tian Dazhuang, but that was impossible now.
“Go tell grandfather, this time I will not let the old master down.”
After the servant withdrew, Yan Shujing harbored not a shred of doubt as she shut the door to make herself up.
At the same time, the imperial army of 50,000 was encamped nearby at Tongluo Plain. This late at night, Long Yu’s appearance at Four Sisters Mountain did not strike her as strange, so she had no inkling of suspicion.
After adorning herself luxuriously, she followed Long Yi’s instructions, taking a lantern as she headed alone towards Four Sisters Mountain.
Watching her lavish departure, Ms. Hu and Yan Shuxiu’s faces contorted with rage.
Yan Shuxiu pressed her tongue against her molars, fuming, “Mother, Yan Shujing has already been used up, so why does that general still want to see her?”
Ms. Hu snorted coldly. “That general must not know. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Xiu’er. Shujing is no longer an unblemished maiden, he’ll find out sooner or later. And when he does…”
Yan Shuxiu’s heart tightened. “When he does…will it implicate us too?”
Ms. Hu could not help but worry as well. “That Yan Shujing is truly a bane.”
Yan Xiaosi and Tian Dazhuang were strolling through the village when, about two quarters of an hour ago, they saw Long Yi coming from the direction of the Yan manor. Half an hour later, they spotted Yan Shujing, adorned in pink robes and full finery, heading from the manor towards Four Sisters Mountain.
“Brother Dazhuang, Yan Shujing has gone towards Four Sisters Mountain. Let’s hurry back and call Auntie Tian.”
The pair hastened back to the Tian residence, where Ms. Wang had already washed the dishes but was still seething in the courtyard.
