Chapter 443 A Note from a Decade ago
“Lady Qu, may I join you there?” Liu Jingyu stood firmly at the door, not in a rush to leave, and pointed to the stone table under the tree in the courtyard.
Qu Moying glanced behind her and didn’t see her maid following closely. She nodded thoughtfully.
The two of them approached and settled on the stone bench in front of the stone table. Yu Dong called the Granny from Furong House, and asked her to prepare tea and snacks.
The Granny was recently promoted, so she was eager to please and quickly sent the maid to prepare the refreshments.
“Lady Qu, may I ask if anything like this has happened to Third Lady Qu in the past?” Liu Jingyu asked as soon as she sat down.
“I am not certain. You should know that I don’t live here before.” Qu Moying calmly replied, watching Yu Dong busily attending to the maidservants and hastening the tea service. She subtly curved her lips.
Liu Jingyu fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Qu Moying with sincerity in her eyes. “Lady Qu, I haven’t met you before, and what I know about you is only from hearsay. Perhaps I didn’t quite like what I heard, but that’s all. This recent incident was indeed subjective on my part, but it truly turned out to be an accident. There was no malicious intent.”
She was explaining the previous incident, not completely shirking responsibility. In fact, she vaguely admitted that she had some knowledge about Qu Qiuyan, but didn’t take any action. On the one hand, she believed it wasn’t a significant matter, and on the other hand, she wanted to see what Qu Qiuyan intended. However, she couldn’t have anticipated the final outcome.
Of course, she also vaguely expressed her dislike for Qu Moying, influenced by the rumors she had heard.
But she couldn’t reveal who had spread those rumors.
While Liu Jingyu’s words were carefully chosen and explained clearly, upon closer inspection, they lacked substantial evidence. Liu Jingyu was truly cunning.
Moments ago, she was almost losing control due to anger, but now she had calmed down and could speak such words. Despite suffering a significant loss, she was able to maintain composure.
However, Qu Moying knew more than Liu Jingyu realized.
“I wonder what kind of rumors you have heard that would make you think less of me?” Qu Moying didn’t inquire about the source of the rumors, only asking this question. “I don’t think there is anything wrong with the rumors circulating outside!”
If Qu Moying had asked about the source of the rumors, her identity wouldn’t require an explanation. But Qu Moying’s response now came naturally from a different angle. If she didn’t explain, it would seem that her previous words were too perfunctory.
After a brief pause, Liu Jingyu replied, “I heard that the annulment of the engagement between you and Young Master Yongning seemed to be your own idea.”
“And what if it was?” Qu Moying smiled faintly, without a hint of animosity. “County Lady, even if a man is disloyal and harms you by being involved with another woman, would you still willingly marry him?”
“Of course not, but Young Master Yongning doesn’t seem to be that kind of person.” Liu Jingyu could only respond in that manner at this point.
“You are quite familiar with him? Did he say something?” Qu Moying smiled.
Liu Jingyu was taken aback, and her expression immediately darkened. “What do you mean, Fourth Lady Qu?”
If it hadn’t been for Xu Lipeng finding the sachet, Liu Jingyu could have said that she thought Young Master Yongning was good based on what she had seen and heard. But now, she couldn’t say anything, not even matters related to Xu Lipeng in the future.
“I heard that Marquis Yongning’s Mansion and the Duke Qi’s Mansion are close friends. I assumed that the two families had a good relationship, which led to my understanding of certain matters.” Qu Moying said openly.
It seemed as if her earlier question was really intended in that way.
Liu Jingyu’s expression turned grim. The matter wasn’t resolved yet, and even if it was related to the Qu family, it wasn’t the main concern.
With this realization, everything became tasteless, and she no longer had the inclination to speak with Qu Moying. She stood up and said, “Fourth Lady Qu, my father is waiting for me outside. I won’t bother you any longer.”
Qu Moying also stood up and smiled. “County Lady Jing Yu, please!”
Liu Jinyu nodded and walked away with the maid who had just come out behind her. Qu Moying accompanied her to the courtyard gate, watching her depart before turning back with Yu Dong.
Inside the room, Qu Qiuyan had already sat up, her face pale and unpleasant. The curtains were hung up, revealing a red and swollen garment on her arm.
Observing Qu Qiuyan gritting her teeth in pain, it was evident that she had suffered a severe burn. Liu Jingyu intentionally took her time, prolonging the situation.
“Go and fetch a doctor for our third sister.” Qu Moying instructed Qing Ju after glancing at Qu Qiuyan.
Qing Ju hesitated, looking at Qu Qiuyan, and didn’t dare to respond.
“No need!” Qu Qiuyan shook her head. “Father has given me medication for the burn.”
This was all premeditated. Knowing this, Qu Moying no longer wanted to interfere. Qu Qiuyan had brought this upon herself.
After a brief glance at the two, Qu Moying turned and left.
Yu Dong followed closely behind. Once they were outside the courtyard gate, Yu Dong spoke up, “Lady, while I was in the corridor instructing the maids to prepare tea, I overheard a conversation between the maid from Liu Jingyu and Qing Ju. It didn’t sound like they were discussing the condition of the third young lady. Qing Ju’s voice was unintentionally loud, indicating her panic.”
Yu Dong had deliberately gone to the corridor to hasten the other maids because Liu Jingyu’s maid had not come out.
Qu Moying paused for a moment, her gaze slightly lowered, and a cold smile played on her lips. Liu Jingyu’s plans were not without backup; she had a second plan. The previous conversation was intended to divert her attention.
“You keep a close watch on the Furong House. If there’s any movement, it will be swift. Third sister won’t be able to endure it.” Qu Moying said coldly.
Qu Qiuyan had suffered another setback this time, and the situation had become chaotic. She was enraged and had no outlet for her anger. Liu Jingyu had calculated the timing quite well.
Qu Qiuyan wouldn’t be able to bear it any longer.
The note was old, yellowed with age, but the quality of the paper was excellent—it was Chengxin Paper, not something just any household could afford.
It bore the words, “Meet me at the Yue’s Clothing Pavilion. I have something important to tell you!”
Below that, there was a signature. If it hadn’t been mentioned, Qu Qiuyan would never have known that it was the handwriting of Minister Liu. The note was talking about Second Madam Qu.
Looking at the date of the signature, this Second Madam Qu was not her mother Yu, but Qu Moying’s biological mother, Little Yue.
Qu Moying’s birth mother, Little Yue, unexpectedly knew this Minister Liu, and their relationship seemed to be more than ordinary, even somewhat ambiguous.
Qu Qiuyan tightly clenched the note, her face contorted in the dimly lit room. She had never been able to find Qu Moying’s weak point, but now, did she finally have one?
And it was delivered into her hands by Liu Jinyu.
But was it genuine or fake?
Qing Ju stood by the bed, her heart in turmoil. Even now, she couldn’t calm herself down. That maid from Liu Jingyu had brought her the note.
All she had said was, “Investigate the relationship between our lord and your former second madam. Our county lady heard that there are some doubts about the birth of the fourth young lady in your household.”
Qing Ju was so frightened that she almost dropped the items in her hands. It was this maid who took the tray from her and placed it on the table.
Qing Ju couldn’t even recall what else she had said at that time. Then, the note was thrust into her hands, and she watched the maid walk away.
As soon as she left, the lady on the bed abruptly sat up, urging herself to hand over the note. However, just as the lady picked it up, the fourth lady entered the room, prompting the lady to hurriedly conceal it.
Now the note lay flat on the small table in front of the lady. Qing Ju could also read and understand the words written on it. She felt a tremor throughout her body and broke into a cold sweat.
“Lady…” Qing Ju called out anxiously as Qu Qiuyan remained silent.
“I want to see my mother.” Qu Qiuyan suddenly spoke, interrupting Qing Ju’s words. She raised her head, casting a slightly chilling gaze at Qing Ju. “Find a way for me to meet my mother.”
“Do you want to inquire with Madam?” Qing Ju made an effort to remain composed, or at least appear so. Only she knew the icy sensation in her chest, and she couldn’t shake off the sense of foreboding.
Qing Ju had witnessed her young lady plotting against the fourth lady on multiple occasions, but it was always the third lady who suffered the consequences. Now, the third lady had become the concubine of Lord Jing, bearing the burns on her arms.
Qing Ju was genuinely afraid. She feared that this time things would turn out even worse than before.
“Lady, perhaps we should think of a solution after we enter the Lord Jing’s Mansion!” Qing Ju advised in a hushed voice. She genuinely feared Qu Moying and couldn’t bear to assist her young lady in plotting against the fourth lady any longer.
“We’ll deal with future matters in the future. I can’t wait any longer. I must see my mother tonight.” Qu Qiuyan impatiently waved her hand, cutting off Qing Ju’s words.
Observing her determination, Qing Ju dared not argue further. She knew that if she continued, the third lady would explode in anger. Qing Ju simply nodded in response.
“Prepare the medicine for me!” Qu Qiuyan said, her face growing dark.
This time, she had narrowly escaped complete disaster. Thankfully, her father had devised a plan to save her. Her hands throbbed with a searing pain, but more than that, she felt an overwhelming sense of frustration. How could Qu Moying remain unscathed while she suffered?
The note appeared genuine. As long as it was authentic, everything would be fine. Even if Qu Moying was her father’s daughter, Qu Qiuyan would ensure she became nothing more than a bastard.
The true mistress of the Qu Mansion could only be herself. She and only she!
Qing Ju efficiently handled the matter. By dinner time, everything had been arranged. After finishing their meal, Qu Qiuyan wrapped herself in a large cloak. Stealthily, accompanied by Qing Ju, she slipped into the backyard of the Yu residence, and then made their way to the main building at the front.
A faint oil lamp illuminated the main house. Yu was half-reclined on the bed, her appearance gloomy and dismal. She exuded an aura of decay that disgusted Qu Qiuyan, accompanied by a faint, silent stench. Qu Qiuyan couldn’t develop any affection for her.
When Yu saw Qu Qiuyan, she became visibly excited. “Yan, you’ve come to see me!”
