C19 The Feast of Hongmen

The Banquet at Hongmen was anything but a pleasant gathering. If it were possible to refuse, Yan Li would certainly not let Luo Tingye attend. And getting Luo Tingye to lift his esteemed foot to go was no easy feat.

Yan Li immediately put on a fawning smile. "My dear Eldest Young Master, you wouldn't want to 'waste' this prime opportunity for a counterattack, would you? If we succeed this time, Mrs. Lau will have to lay low for at least six months. Don't you want some peace and quiet?"

For some reason, the usually sickly Eldest Young Master was reluctant to go.

Luo Tingye looked at her expression, a bit exasperated. Wasn't there a better way? Did he really have to "sacrifice" himself? Despite her innocent appearance, she had more cunning plans than he did.

Going along with her scheme—only she could come up with something like that.

Seeing his indifference, Yan Li's fawning smile was starting to falter. She said directly, "Don't worry, my husband. I guarantee that Mei'er won't tarnish your reputation, and their love potion won't end up in your bowl. Just go boldly, and leave the rest to me."

She even patted her chest in assurance.

Luo Tingye stared at her for a while, as if weighing just how "safe" her plan was. Finally, he nodded slightly. Fine.

Yan Li was so moved she almost cried. Truly, what a good man.

Having "persuaded" Luo Tingye, Yan Li took Ayuv and immediately left the room.

In the courtyard, Nanny Cheung casually asked, "Great Young Madam, where are you off to?"

Yan Li replied just as casually, "To the garden to pick some flowers."

Ayuv, puzzled, whispered, "Aren't we going to the kitchen? You said we were going to let the Third Young Master reap what he sowed."

Without breaking her stride, Yan Li raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so honest? Don't you know who Nanny Cheung reports to? We can't let her know our whereabouts."

Ayuv suddenly realized, "You're right, Great Young Madam. I hadn't thought of it that way... But there's one thing I do know: the bond between you and the Eldest Young Master is truly touching, even to someone like me."

With that, the honest Ayuv looked at her with shining eyes.

Yan Li felt a chill inside. Could their relationship really be that good? How could there be such a major misunderstanding? She was only doing this to leave the Luo Mansion, and Luo Tingye... he wasn't as simple as he seemed. They must have misjudged him. In short, they were on different paths and would never end up together. Their relationship was straightforward: she was a substitute bride, and he was the victim of the substitution. That's all there was to it.

Yan Li was clear about her goals and wouldn't be swayed by the situation at hand. Her resolve had never wavered: to live well and comfortably.

With this in mind, Yan Li quickened her pace, drawing closer to the kitchen. Upon arrival, she unleashed her fury, kicking the woman guarding the kitchen door to the ground, citing her disrespect for not greeting the Great Young Madam properly.

...

Willow Court.

"Madam, the Third Young Master is proceeding as planned, and the Eldest Young Master has indeed come over."

Nanny Lau reported with a satisfied grin.

Mrs. Lau's face lit up with a broad smile as she sipped her tea. "Really? That's fantastic! If we can take down Luo Tingye this time, Mei'er will be handsomely rewarded."

She couldn't deny her delight. Last time, when Mei'er failed, she was displeased. Moreover, when her husband returned, he spent time laughing and chatting at Banquet Night Courtyard, ignoring her completely. If this plan succeeded, it would at least cause unrest at the courtyard, and at most, it could be the end for that sickly man.

Tingye, now sixteen, has been ill for as long as he can remember. His health has always been fragile. Since Yan Li married him, she hasn't seen any sign of intimacy, suggesting that Tingye might truly be incapable in that regard.

Mrs. Lau, pondering this, felt an inexplicable sense of joy.

"Haha, this is truly satisfying. Without intimacy, there are no heirs. And with Mei'er's potent concoction, Tingye is bound to meet his end."

Meet his end.

Such a scandalous phrase, yet it hints at an awkward demise. But how many men have met their end in such a way, especially those older men who chase after young, beautiful women?

In high spirits, Mrs. Lau commanded, "Nanny Lau, keep an eye out. As soon as there's news from our inside men, report to me immediately. Then, I'll make a timely appearance and offer Mei'er to Tingye as his wife. Of course, all this must happen while Tingye is still alive."

Nanny Lau was about to comply but hesitated. "Ma'am, the second young master isn't here."

Where's the inside man? Only the third young master is handling everything.

Mrs. Lau's smile froze, her voice rising in surprise, "What? Only the third young master? Weren't both brothers supposed to work together to get Tingye drunk?"

Nanny Lau grimaced, then explained, "It seems the second young master was invited out for drinks by Master Luo's son. The third young master wanted to go too, but for some reason, he stayed behind."

Mrs. Lau was immediately agitated, "Why didn't you stop him? Don't underestimate Tingye just because he's sick. He's sharp and cautious, rarely speaking but always careful. We can't let him slip through our fingers."

Over the years, she's realized that Tingye is impervious to both kindness and hostility. No matter the approach, he remains secluded in his courtyard, living quietly. Her efforts over the past decade have felt like punching into cotton, leaving her feeling quite unsettled.

Nanny Lau, unconcerned, said, "Ma'am, don't worry. Since the Third Young Master is determined to handle this, he'll do it perfectly. Besides, isn't Mei'er there to help? Everything will be fine. You must have faith in the Third Young Master."

Mrs. Lau murmured, "Really?"

Nanny Lau straightened up, volunteering, "Ma'am, I'll head over to the Banquet Night Courtyard to keep an eye on things. If the Eldest Young Master refuses to drink the soup, I'll give him a little nudge."

Only then did Mrs. Lau nod in relief, waving her hand, "Go on."

With her orders, Nanny Lau scurried out of the courtyard. Mrs. Lau resumed sipping her tea, waiting for news from the other side. However, what came was a rather amusing report.

"Ma'am, the Great Young Madam went to the kitchen and kicked the maid guarding the courtyard gate."

Mrs. Lau, impatient, said, "So she kicked a maid? What's the big deal? Don't report such trivial matters today."

Her focus was solely on news about Luo Tingye, not on Yan Li kicking a maid.

The maid delivering the message gave Mrs. Lau a peculiar look, swallowing the rest of her words. She wanted to add that the soup specifically requested by the Third Young Master had also been spilled...