The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 27 - 26

Chapter 26

"So, what will you do next with Fei Ren?" Uncle Wang, unable to hide the joy evident on his face, inquired with a smile in his eyes.

Tap, tap, tap.

Mu Yingying rhythmically tapped her fingers on the table, pondering something deeply. Now that Fei Ren had become an important piece for the future, she must pay more attention to her. It was imperative that no mistakes occurred.

"How much does she know about our forces now?"

"Since she has only recently recovered from a chronic illness and her body has just regained strength, she hasn’t been assigned to any unit yet. She’s been placed in a spy unit, which doesn’t know much yet, just teaching new members with the skills she possesses," Uncle Wang honestly replied.

Mu Yingying paused in thought before responding, "Then send her to stay by my side, Uncle Wang. I can look after her to prevent any mishaps and also prevent her from knowing too much about our forces. I will inform her of what she needs to know myself."

"Understood."

"And how are my eldest brother and eldest sister...doing?" Mu Yingying turned to inquire about the well-being of her siblings.

Currently unable to travel to the capital, she could not fully protect and care for her elder siblings. She could only send her people to blend in and watch over them alongside the shadow guards Uncle Wang helped procure for covert protection.

Despite her deep longing to meet, see, and embrace them, Mu Yingying had to suppress those feelings.

Because it wasn’t the right time yet...

Recalling the report in the letter about the young master and young miss, Uncle Wang immediately showed a puzzled expression, "Actually, the letter did report about their recent actions, but the changes in the Eldest Young Miss are quite perplexing. Even this old man is somewhat baffled."

"What has happened?" Mu Yingying arched her eyebrows curiously.

"The shadow guards following the Eldest Young Miss reported that she has been sneaking out of the manor frequently, visiting a small pharmacy in a narrow alley. Upon investigation, it was found to be the clinic of Divine Doctor Li. Additionally, her personal servant mentioned something about master and disciple. It seems the Eldest Young Miss might have taken Divine Doctor Li as her master."

"There was another incident that further puzzled me. A shadow guard reported that once, Shin Wang visited Divine Doctor Li’s pharmacy but had to leave with severe allergic reactions, so severe that he was gravely ill for three days and nights. I fear it might have been the Eldest Young Miss’s doing."

Upon hearing this, Mu Yingying frowned deeply, contemplating silently without uttering a word.

After their conversation, Uncle Wang excused himself, leaving Mu Yingying alone in the room. She gazed out of the window into the vast darkness of the night.

Her bright eyes dimmed as if mirroring the endless, obscure sky, her body exuding a chilling aura that was quite frightening...

Mu Yingying remained engulfed in her own thoughts. If what Uncle Wang said was true, then these events were indeed suspicious, and she felt an ominous premonition.

She couldn’t recall, not even slightly, her sister acknowledging Divine Doctor Li as a master in their past life!

Her sister might have been genuinely interested in herbs, yet she never swore fealty to any mentor, merely engaging with herbal textbooks during her leisure. So, why in this life did her sister acknowledge Divine Doctor Li as a master?

Considering her sister’s age, she would only be nine years old – there’s no way she would engage in such clandestine activities as sneaking out to acknowledge Divine Doctor Li as her master.

Would it be that easy to find Divine Doctor Li?

Certainly not!

And a nine-year-old girl, who had always been proper and obedient to her parents, daring to break the manor’s rules and sneak out so frequently?

Furthermore, considering the incident with Shin Wang, as the two had never met before, there should be no prior grievances. How could her sister harm Shin Wang then?

All these events seemed too bizarre!

Unless...her sister, like her, retained memories from a past life!

Suddenly, Mu Yingying’s eyes widened in panic before she expressed a serious demeanor. Her sister having similar experiences was the last thing she desired!

For it meant her sister would also harbor harrowing memories of the past!

Having to endure the agony of reliving a dreadful past, a constant nightmare haunting them every night, reminding them of the pain endured, as if they never left those moments.

In their sleep...these memories would invariably emerge, uncontrollable.

When awaked...those past feelings were still there, never fading away.

Carrying these memories was akin to being submerged in the past, forcibly swallowing, and enduring those pains.

Which she didn’t want her sister to experience at all!

In this life, only she should bear this torment. Her brother and sister should live happily; they should blossom beautifully under her protection.

They had suffered enough in their past life. Why should they bear such pain again in this life?

Couldn’t she be the only one to carry this burden?

Mu Yingying closed her eyes, allowing tears of sorrow to flow freely in the solitude of her room. Amidst the night’s darkness, a small silhouette was quietly weeping alone, her sobs faintly echoing beyond the room, barely audible.

While the servants in the house had retired to sleep, a young man wearing a mask stood leaning against the door outside, attentively listening to the sobbing inside.

After a while, as the sobbing ceased, Lu Jiu entered the room, gently lifting the small figure from the daybed near the window to the larger bed inside. He laid her down carefully before pulling the covers over her.

The moonlight streaming through the window revealed moist eyelashes and tear-stained cheeks. Lu Jiu instinctively wiped away her tears.

He paused momentarily as he regained his composure, then swiftly closed the window to block the night breeze before exiting the room quickly...

The next morning, Mu Yingying woke up groggily, surprised to find herself on the bed. She recalled crying herself to sleep on the daybed near the window the previous night.

She glanced at the daybed across the room, only to find the now-closed window, so she assumed Su Su had moved her to the bed after seeing her asleep there.

Believing it was Su Su’s doing, she didn’t dwell on it further, massaging her eyes gently to ease the soreness, likely from crying too much the previous night.

Su Su, who had just entered the room, approached her mistress with a washbasin, "Are your eyes hurting, Miss?"

"Yeah...it hurts a bit," Mu Yingying responded in a soft voice, still keeping her eyes shut, waiting for the pain to subside.

Su Su raised her eyebrows in surprise. Before she entered the room, she had met Lu Jiu who informed her to prepare a warm compress for the young miss’s eyes, fearing they might hurt when she woke up.

Initially confused by Lu Jiu’s instruction, Su Su nevertheless prepared the compress, which now seemed necessary as the young miss exhibited discomfort, just as Lu Jiu had predicted.

"I will apply a warm compress, Miss."

Su Su dipped a cloth in warm water from the basin, wrung it out, and then gently placed it over Mu Yingying’s eyes. The warmth provided immediate relief, and the comfort eventually lulled Mu Yingying back to sleep.

When Mu Yingying awoke again, the soreness around her eyes had faded. She freshened up, changed clothes, and went out to sit in her favorite spot under a large tree.

The day’s warm sunlight was perfect, not too hot, ideal for relaxing under the tree’s generous shade.

Under the dappled light, Mu Yingying sat comfortably in a rocking chair, her face adorned with a constant smile, a stark contrast to her sorrowful demeanor from the night before.

Yet, her heart still harbored mixed feelings like the previous night; however, well-contained within, not displayed for others to worry about.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiu approached her with an invitation in hand. "This is an invitation from the Cheng family manor, Miss."

"Hmm?"

Mu Yingying raised her eyebrows slightly, took the invitation, and read its contents, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.

It seemed time for her to visit the Cheng family manor...

The invitation requested her presence at a birthday celebration for the second young miss of the Cheng family, Cheng Liting, to be held at their manor in ten days.

Normally, the Cheng family paid little attention to this second young miss, barely concerning themselves with her welfare, let alone celebrating her birthday. Yet, now they were organizing a grand celebration and had even sent an invitation to her.

Humph!

Clearly, the Cheng family had some ulterior motive, probably recognizing her and her grandmother’s support for Cheng Liting. Otherwise, why would they suddenly change?

"How have things been with the Cheng family lately?"

Mu Yingying carefully folded the invitation and asked for more information, prompting Lu Jiu to reply calmly, "Two months ago, the eldest young miss of the Cheng family was released from the ancestral hall. Cheng Furen’s confinement order was also lifted. Initially, she planned to reclaim her authority to manage the household affairs from the Second Cheng Furen."

"However, before she could act, the Second Cheng Furen had joyful news; she was pregnant, which greatly pleased Governor Cheng. Consequently, he acceded to all of Second Cheng Furen’s requests and did not restore household management authority to Cheng Furen."

"As for the Eldest Young Miss Cheng, since her release, she has tried to create trouble for the second young miss several times but never succeeded, as the Second Cheng Furen’s supporters always interfered..."

Mu Yingying nodded in acknowledgment and instructed, "Order our people to take extra care of the Second Cheng Furen. Her pregnancy must come to term successfully, ensuring her a stable position at last."

If the Second Cheng Furen gave birth to a son, as in the past life, her position would be even more secure, coupled with the authority over household affairs and the affection and favor she received from her husband. This would give her enough leverage to confront Cheng Furen!

In the coming days, the Cheng family manor would likely become a battleground of female power struggles.

If so, Cheng Fuyuan might not enjoy a peaceful life either.

She had said she would gradually make the other party pay for the suffering they inflicted in the past life. She intended to let them experience the bitterness of a hard life...

Ten days later.

The birthday celebration for the second young miss of the Cheng family arrived. Initially, Elder Mu Furen was concerned about her granddaughter’s health and was reluctant to let her travel. However, Mu Yingying had secretly instructed Doctor Yao to report to her grandmother that she was much better.

The Elder Furen then agreed to let her granddaughter attend the event at the Cheng family manor, provided that Su Ming would accompany her for any necessary assistance.

Mu Yingying readily agreed, comforted by the presence of her grandmother’s confidant, Nanny Su Ming. Having her there was like having the Elder Mu Furen herself at the celebration, representing her support and presence at the event!

When the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Cheng family manor, the Mu family group promptly entered the venue and discovered the party was drawing considerable attention, with many guests participating. Upon seeing the Mu family group entering, the attendees’ eyes sparkled with joy.

It appeared that the guests were attending partly out of respect for Governor Cheng and partly due to the news about the Mu family’s support for the Second Young Miss Cheng. They decided to join the event, hoping to forge ties with the Mu family.

However, their expectation to see the Elder Mu Furen at the party turned into disappointment when she was nowhere to be seen.

Mu Yingying, indifferent to those people, made her way to the hall to find the birthday celebrant. Soon after, the Mu family group reached the banquet hall, and when Cheng Liting spotted the familiar figure of the young girl, her face instantly lit up with joy.

"Yingying”

"Happy birthday, Sister Liting! Here’s a gift from me to you," Mu Yingying presented a gift box with a broad smile.

Cheng Liting accepted the gift box, indicating its importance compared to other general gifts typically handed over to servants for storage.

"Thank you so much. Come, keep me company for a walk. It’s too crowded here," Cheng Liting whispered nervously, prompting a soft laugh from Mu Yingying before they strolled to the garden behind the manor, accompanied by Su Su and Lu Jiu.

Once away from the crowded event, Cheng Liting sighed deeply, "I’m not used to being surrounded by so many people. It feels overwhelming."

"You need to get accustomed to it, Sister Liting. In the future, you’ll encounter such events more often," Mu Yingying advised warmly.

The crowd today was just a fraction of what Cheng Liting would face in her birthday celebration when she regained her status in the future.

If she couldn’t adapt now, what would she do then?

"Actually, we didn’t need to organize such a grand event. Just having you here to wish me is enough to make me happy," Cheng Liting turned to Mu Yingying with a genuine smile, eliciting a soft laugh and a rare, bright smile from her.

As they leisurely chatted and reached a pavilion near a pond in the garden, a sharp voice interrupted, accompanied by a figure in a striking red attire approaching the pavilion.

"Ha! You seem to be enjoying yourselves quite a bit..."

Cheng Fuyuan looked at Cheng Liting with disdain before casting a fierce glance at the little girl sitting across the pavilion. Her eyes seemed to blaze with fire.

Finally, the person she despised the most, the one she had been waiting to take revenge on, appeared before her!

As soon as Cheng Fuyuan finished speaking, Mu Yingying quickly lowered her gaze to hide her amusement, her lips twitching into a smirk.

Trouble found its way without seeking it – this phrase couldn’t be more accurate!

She was also feeling bored lately. Since Cheng Fuyuan had the audacity to confront them, she decided to engage in this little game herself.

"You all must be very pleased with yourselves, making me suffer in the ancestral hall!" Cheng Fuyuan spat out harshly, her smile scornful. "Oh, no...perhaps there’s one among you who hasn’t been very comfortable either."

"I heard that recently you were mistakenly beaten like a dog by a lowly servant! The injury was quite severe!" Cheng Fuyuan gloated over the other party’s misery, her gaze turning satisfied as she stared at the little figure. "Isn’t that right, Seventh Young Miss?"

Mu Yingying offered a slight smile, looking up at Cheng Fuyuan with innocent eyes. "And how about you, Eldest Young Miss? How have you been? Stuck in the ancestral hall for a month, copying over a thousand manuscripts, you must remember them all by heart now, don’t you?"

Stung by Mu Yingying’s piercing words, Cheng Fuyuan glowered back at the despised child with overt hatred.

She loathed this little girl immensely!

Loathed her pretense!

Beneath that feigned innocence was nothing short of a demon in disguise!

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