C18 Be Careful Young Master

It's no wonder Yan Li was so upset. The pouch contained a potent concoction, and even during the short conversation in the courtyard, Luo Tingye's condition began to deteriorate. Dr. Zhao had to administer acupuncture and prescribe medicine, working tirelessly through the night to reduce the redness that shouldn't have been on his face.

Yan Li glanced at the dark circles under Luo Tingye's eyes, and a surge of anger welled up within her.

"Ayuv, where is Mei'er now?"

Following her orders, Ayuv discreetly had a maid named Pearl shadow Mei'er, so she knew exactly where Mei'er had been and what she had done.

"Great Young Madam, Mei'er went to the Baoquan Courtyard and stayed there for a full hour before leaving," Ayuv reported.

The Baoquan Courtyard belonged to Luo Tingbao and Luo Tingquan. Although the two brothers shared the courtyard, it was more than twice the size of the Banquet Night Courtyard. The decor was said to be modeled after the luxurious homes of wealthy families in the capital, with elegance and opulence as its defining features.

Hmph, Mrs. Lau might not be a good person, but she was certainly attentive to her two sons. Yet, she didn't let being a good mother stop her from scheming. Her sons were her sons, but did that mean others' sons weren't? Did they deserve to be plotted against and harmed? Where in the world is such shameless logic?

"Ayuv, go, have little Pearl keep an eye on the movements of the Second and Third Young Masters. It's best if you report to me when one leaves and the other stays."

A thin layer of frost gradually covered Yan Li's dark eyes.

Although Ayuv didn't understand the Great Young Madam's intentions, she complied. "Yes, I understand."

Ayuv left, and the room was once again quiet, with only her and the bedridden Luo Tingye remaining. She slowly got up, walked over to the jasmine plant in full bloom, and gently picked one of the pristine white flowers.

The palms were as white as snow, and so were the flowers...

It seemed Old Master Luo was heartbroken. A few days later, he left again. This time, unlike before, he didn't give detailed instructions to Mrs. Lau and his two sons. He left without a word, but he did leave a few messages for the Banquet Night Courtyard.

Mrs. Lau felt a pang in her chest. "Bao and Quan are his sons too. Why didn't he say anything to them? And all this talk about the fields, it's really infuriating."

Nanny Lau offered her a cup of hot tea, trying to comfort her. "Ma'am, take care of yourself. The master didn't say much, just mentioned that the lower fields would be taken care of. It's not a big deal... Those fields aren't fertile, no water, no nutrients. It's been years, and the crops are always poor. Ten acres yield less than others' three or four. Even I wouldn't bother with such land."

What Mrs. Lau cared most about was Old Master Luo's land. She absolutely didn't want the sickly heir to have anything to do with it. She hoped Luo Tingye wouldn't get a single penny or an inch of land.

"You're right. If you don't care for it, why would I? Those fields won't yield even ten silver dollars. Fine, let's generously let them have it," Mrs. Lau said with a wave of her hand. "By the way, how's Mei'er doing?"

The conversation shifted.

Nanny Lau put the matter of the fields aside and focused on the current issue.

"Ma'am, Mei'er didn't succeed this time, but don't worry. She's come up with a new plan and is confident she can win over Luo Tingye this time."

Mrs. Lau scoffed, "Really? Let's hope she doesn't overpromise again."

Nanny Lau smiled, "Ma'am, Mei'er recently sought help from the Second and Third Young Masters. If they use their influence to invite Luo Tingye for a drink, Mei'er will have her chance, won't she?"

Mrs. Lau was a bit displeased. "Why bring Bao and Quan into this?"

Nanny Lau continued, "Ma'am, sometimes you have to take risks to achieve your goals. In the past, we wouldn't have needed to involve the young masters, but now with Yan Li in the picture, we must take stronger actions."

The idea of taking risks struck a chord with Mrs. Lau. She realized that for over a decade, she had been too cautious, and now with that sly fox Yan Li around, her previous methods might not work. If she didn't act decisively, Luo Tingye would soon overshadow her.

Mrs. Lau nodded. "Do as you suggest, but make sure Luo Tingye is brought down this time, or I won't be so forgiving."

Nanny Lau bowed, "Yes, ma'am."

Wherever there are people, there will be conflict. In this silent battle, it's all about who has the sharper skills and quicker mind. The one who laughs last... isn't always the best.

One day, Luo Tingye was strolling in the courtyard, enjoying the sun and the scent of flowers, when suddenly, a snake as thick as a tree branch slithered out from the beautiful white blooms.

Zuo turned pale and immediately shielded Luo Tingye. "Be careful, sir."

Watching from the window, Yan Li facepalmed in disbelief.

Zuo, you're loyal, but could you use your brain a bit? Just standing in front of Luo Tingye won't stop the snake. Couldn't you find something to kill it with? Or maybe kick a nearby flowerpot to crush it?

It's hard to believe servants in the past could be so clueless.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry, did I scare you, big brother?" At that moment, Luo Tingquan approached. Although he apologized, his expression clearly showed he was amused by the situation.

Yan Li finally let a smile play on her lips, thinking the real show was about to begin.

Luo Tingye pressed a fist to his lips, coughed softly a couple of times, and then murmured, "It's alright."

Luo Tingquan sized up his "big brother" from head to toe, jealousy flickering in his eyes. Though he was frail, his appearance was flawless. Among the jasmine flowers, he seemed like a deity descended to earth, captivating all who looked upon him. His every move exuded an elegance and grace that someone as ordinary as Luo Tingquan could never possess.

The flames of envy slowly consumed Luo Tingquan, and his eyes brimmed with calculation.

"Big brother, this snake is something I just picked up from the market for fun. I didn't expect it to disturb you. How about this: I'll host a dinner tomorrow to apologize. It's settled then. I'll send a servant to invite you."

Without leaving room for refusal, he turned and left.

Luo Tingye had no intention of declining. His gaze shifted to the window, where a delicate silhouette stood quietly...