Chapter 446 - 446 I Can’t Mess with that Woman

“He… How could he… How could he…” Yu pushed Hai Lan away, bursting into tears and uncontrollably scratching her face with her hands. The delicate brocade on the quilt was torn in the process, and threads hung chaotically from Yu’s nails, giving her a crazed appearance.

“Madam… Please, calm down. Second Master hasn’t gone far… He might hear you…” Hai Lan pleaded in a trembling voice.

“You know what I’m going to say, don’t you? About that woman, right? I thought I had his heart, but it turns out, neither I nor Yue are the ones in his heart… We are just substitutes for that woman…” Yu screamed uncontrollably.

Once again, Hai Lan covered Yu’s mouth, her face pale with fear. “Madam, even if not for your sake, please think of Second Young Master and Third Lady. They shouldn’t be dragged into this mess.”

This remark calmed Yu down. Her face turned ashen, and she tightly grasped Hai Lan’s hand. The room fell eerily silent under the dim light.

After a while, Yu nodded absently, “Yes, I can’t bring trouble to Yan and the others. That woman, I can’t afford to mess with her.”

“Madam, you…” Hai Lan looked at Yu cautiously, afraid she might lose control again. Lately, Yu’s emotions have been unstable, sometimes erupting uncontrollably, resembling a person who had truly lost their sanity.

“Hai Lan, don’t worry, I won’t seek trouble. I won’t confront… her directly. But we can’t let Qu Moying, that despicable girl, stay either. She is a disaster waiting to happen.” Yu gritted her teeth.

Hai Lan wisely refrained from commenting. The current Fourth Lady was no longer the easily manipulated girl she once was.

“Hai Lan, pass a message to my brother. Tell him to find a way to spread the news that the blind girl is the daughter of Minister Liu.”

Yu let out a deep breath, her voice echoing eerily in the empty room.

“Madam, are you suggesting…” Hai Lan glanced behind her instinctively. The door was open, but the silence suggested that the Second Master had already left.

“That blind girl cannot stay. Although the master claims not to believe me, I don’t believe he truly trusts Yue. Yue and Minister Liu meeting in secret with a note as evidence is most likely true. Who can clear this matter up? Minister Liu, a person like him, wouldn’t have taken the initiative to send a note unless he truly had intentions towards Yue.”

Yu regained her clarity for a rare moment, and Hai Lan nodded in agreement.

“That blind girl must go.” Yu reiterated.

“Yes, I understand. I will find a way to convey the message to Uncle. However, now that the note is gone, it may be difficult to convince people.” Hai Lan hesitated.

“It doesn’t matter. Just deliver the message as instructed.” Yu’s eyes revealed a chilling intensity under the dim light. Suddenly, she burst into an eerie laugh. “Leaving the roots when cutting the grass will always bring trouble. When I spared that blind girl’s life, I thought it wouldn’t lead to anything significant. But I never expected her life to be so resilient, and now it has pushed me to this extent.”

Retrieving something from under the pillow, she placed it into Aunty Hai Lan’s hand, “Take this to my big brother; he’ll know what to do!”

“Madam…” Hai Lan’s voice trembled.

“Go now, while everything is in chaos.” Yu closed her eyes and fell back, “Find someone to spread the message and deliver the item.”

“At a time like this, only those close to Third Lady can relay messages to Master Uncle.” Hai Lan hesitated.

“Then let Third Lady spread the word and deliver the item.” Yu smiled, her teeth glinting coldly under the lamp’s light.

Seeing her determination, Hai Lan knew she couldn’t dissuade her. She carefully placed the item in her arms, then retreated and stood at the door for a moment before turning to the back entrance.

Today, Qu Qiuyan had left the back door open, and Hai Lan gently pushed it, causing it to swing open.

She cautiously peeked outside but found no one around. The night was pitch-black, and only the faint silhouette of trees could be seen.

She didn’t dare to use a lamp to avoid detection. Luckily, Hai Lan was familiar with this path and managed to discern the direction. She stumbled on, but after a few steps, at a corner, she either tripped or kicked something and fell heavily to the ground.

As she fell, Hai Lan couldn’t grasp anything, and it seemed like she collided with something again, causing her body to roll to the side.

Angrily, she cursed as she got back on her feet.

Dusting herself off, she looked around, but nothing caught her eye. Feeling pressed for time, she couldn’t afford to waste any longer and hurried towards Furong Pavilion.

Since Third Lady had just returned, she probably hadn’t gone to sleep yet.

Upon reaching Furong Pavilion, Hai Lan noticed that the door was already closed. After glancing around, she approached the door and knocked.

She knocked for a while before an impatient voice of a servant woman came from inside, “What time is it? Who’s still knocking on the door without checking the time?”

Soon, the sound of shuffling footsteps approached the door.

The side door opened, and a servant woman tying her clothes and yawning appeared. She saw Aunty Hai Lan under the faint light and was momentarily surprised, failing to recognize her immediately.

Normally, Aunty Hai Lan would arrive with several maids and servants. Her presence was commanding and unmatched by other servants in the mansion. How could she look so disheveled today? Her hair was a mess, and her clothes were dirty, as if she had rolled on the ground.

Moreover, Aunty Hai Lan seemed to be going through a tough time recently, appearing thin and pale, lacking her usual vitality. She spent her days accompanying a sometimes unwell Yu, without other attendants. Her current spirited demeanor was rather unexpected.

“Hai… Hai Lan?” The servant woman took a few more looks before finally recognizing her and exclaimed in surprise.

“Has Third Lady gone to sleep?” Aunty Hai Lan glared at the servant woman, not in the best mood.

“No, she just returned, and the main house’s lights are still on.” The servant woman hastily smiled, stepping back and gesturing forward, “Aunty Hai Lan, please come in. Let me inform Third Lady for you.”

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up!” Aunty Hai Lan glared at her, urging her to move quickly.

The doorkeeper servant didn’t dare to waste any more time and hurried inside to inform. As she reached the entrance of the main house, she suddenly realized that the current Aunty Hai Lan was no longer the same as before, making her feel apprehensive about what Aunty Hai Lan might do.

Despite her thoughts, she didn’t dare to neglect her duties. She addressed the curtains inside the main house, “Laay, Aunty Hai Lan has arrived, claiming that there’s an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

Qu Qiuyan had not gone to sleep yet, sitting under the lamp lost in thought. When she heard the commotion outside, she furrowed her brows and nodded at Qing Ju.

Qing Ju stepped outside and asked, “Where is she?”

“Right behind me.” the servant woman replied with a smile, pointing backward.

Only then did Qing Ju notice Aunty Hai Lan in the shadows. Seeing her disheveled appearance, Qing Ju’s heart skipped a beat. The young lady had just returned from Yu’s place, and now Aunty Hai Lan from there had arrived in such a wretched state. Could something have happened?

“Aunty Hai Lan, please come in with me.” Qing Ju hastily invited her inside and gestured for the servant woman to leave.

Aunty Hai Lan stepped out of the shadows and entered the room.

When Qu Qiuyan saw her appearance, her brows furrowed even tighter. Aunty Hai Lan had once taught her many rules, but her current appearance showed no sign of any propriety.

“Third Lady.” Aunty Hai Lan approached and performed a formal salute. Not having a mirror, she was unaware of her current wretched state and assumed that she had cleaned herself up after the fall earlier.

“What brings you here?” Qu Qiuyan asked, lifting her gaze.

“Madam has a message to pass on to Master Uncle and asked Third Lady to relay it. She also wants me to convey…” Aunty Hai Lan began, reaching into her sleeve to retrieve what Yu had given her. However, to her horror, her hand emerged empty-handed, leaving her unable to continue speaking.

“What’s in your hand?” Qu Qiuyan’s eyes were fixed on Aunty Hai Lan’s hand as she asked coldly.

Aunty Hai Lan fumbled inside her sleeve a few times before slowly extending her hand, “Earlier, Madam also gave me a handkerchief, claiming it belonged to the former Madam. But when I hurriedly left, I forgot to take it with me. I will bring it to you next time I go out.”

“A handkerchief?” Qu Qiuyan asked, skeptical.

“Yes, just a handkerchief. It’s not really important. Madam only wanted to increase the credibility of her previous words. She wanted Third Lady to tell Master Uncle that Fourth Lady is the daughter of Minister Liu, not the Master’s biological daughter. Just now, the Master came and tore up your note.”

Aunty Hai Lan didn’t dare to reveal that she had lost something vital, so she kept the topic vague.

“Tore it up?” Qu Qiuyan sat up straight, concerned.

“Yes, he was angry and tore it up, but the Second Master didn’t say anything and only affirmed that Fourth Lady is his biological daughter.” Aunty Hai Lan replied.

“Even in this situation, Father still recognizes Qu Moying as his daughter. He’s truly open-minded. But even if he accepts her, I refuse to acknowledge her.” Qu Qiuyan sneered.

If Qu Moying’s identity remained suspicious, Qu Qiuyan’s status would be secure. Even though she entered Lord Jing’s mansion as a concubine, there were endless opportunities in the future, given Lord Jing’s affection for her.

However, it was all because of Qu Moying that she was forced into the role of a concubine. Nevertheless, Lord Jing’s heart belonged to her. Previously, he had wanted to elevate her status, but Qu Moying’s actions led her to enter the residence as a concubine.

She was certain that Lord Jing wouldn’t be dissatisfied. She would have numerous chances to raise her rank in the future.

But Qu Moying! She wished to tear her to pieces!

If it weren’t for Qu Moying, would she be in this situation? Even if she couldn’t be the main consort, being a formal side consort would have been easy.

A malevolence flashed in her eyes, and she asked, “What else did Mother say?”