Chapter 6: Can’t Waste This Face
This young widow is really too outstanding in appearance. Based on Liu Shi’s understanding of the He Family men, she would definitely cause a disturbance in the He Family.
The two old things at home are dead set on Zhang Shi being the main wife. Even though Liu Shi has made great merit for the He Family, they insist on handing over household management to Zhang Shi, leaving her to live under Zhang Shi’s domineering ways these past few years, which has been truly stifling.
He Xu is a lecher. As long as he falls into the trap of Lin Shi, Zhang Shi will surely go all the way to her death.
As expected, not only did he fall, he fell smoothly and steadily!
However, Liu Shi never expected that before she could even flex her muscles, He Xu died!
After all, Lin Shi was brought in by her herself; if there’s any connection, she won’t be able to explain clearly.
She began to warn: “This was originally something the two families could settle privately, but unexpectedly Madam actually had someone report it to the government officials!
“The government officials will definitely send people. You were brought in by me; if they find out something that implicates me, I won’t spare you first!”
Yue Tang raised her lips again: “Grandmother, rest assured. This servant wouldn’t dare.”
Liu Shi nodded: “Good that you know.”
Yue Tang stepped forward and massaged her temples for her, while looking at the beaded ornaments filling her hairdo in the mirror opposite: “This is Heaven helping Grandmother. Now, without any effort, the right to household management is in hand. Grandmother shouldn’t worry too much but should be happy instead.”
These words hit Liu Shi’s thoughts. She looked at Yue Tang in the mirror: “I am indeed very happy.”
With both husband and wife of the main house dead, she had become the biggest winner in this lawsuit!
Now, she should also do some other things.
She held Yue Tang’s hand and had her sit down: “I forgot to ask, how old are you? Not yet twenty, right?”
“Just turned nineteen in the seventh month.”
Liu Shi smiled and patted the back of her hand: “So young. Have you thought about your future? Look at our He Residence, such a vast family business. Look at the concubines in our mansion; all of them have no worries about food and clothing, wearing gold and jade. Do you envy them?”
Yue Tang paused, then smiled and hummed: “Envy beyond measure.”
Liu Shi puffed out her chest: “Last night in the main house, I saw Second Master quite attentive to you. How about I act as matchmaker for you and our Second Master?”
When she saw He Hui staring unblinkingly at this young widow even at the scene of his elder brother’s death, Liu Shi had once felt a twinge of regret.
Letting a troublemaking vixen like Lin Shi into the mansion was clearly drinking poison to quench thirst.
If He Xu fell for the beauty trap, He Hui would of course also inevitably fall into the pit.
The second house already had enough headaches.
And the secret of her move against the main house—how could she let an outsider like Lin Shi, who had just entered the mansion, hold onto it?
This young widow absolutely could not be kept any longer.
But Liu Shi was not a fool like Zhang Shi who only knew how to throw tantrums.
She wanted to kill two birds with one stone and make full use of this young widow.
“Second Master.”
Yue Tang’s brows and eyes were indifferent.
Liu Shi raised her brow: “What’s this? Could it be you’re unwilling?”
At this point, she restrained her expression and said leisurely: “You do have some looks, but you’re already a fallen woman. Surely you don’t still plan to hold out for a high bidder and fly up to become a phoenix?
“Now that household management is in my hands, with me, the matriarch, protecting you and arranging for you to serve the masters, that is the greatest good fortune you could hope for. If you go to another family, you won’t get such benefits.”
“Grandmother’s care makes this servant deeply grateful, but Second Mistress’s care also fills this servant with fear and trepidation.”
Yue Tang gazed at the makeup box under the mirror.
This box had red gold carved flower inlays at all four corners, just like the gold hairpin and jeweled hairpin with dangling ornaments on Liu Shi’s head, all from the top gold shop in the city.
Liu Shi paused, then held her tea: “To be honest, I also have a task for you.”
Raising this matter at this juncture would indeed make people suspicious.
But with this young widow already under her control, speaking plainly was fine.
“Second Master has taken in two vixens these past few years, his mind all on them, to the point of neglecting his advancement. If you can find a way to help Second Master, make him turn back from his misguided path, that would also be helping me.”
“I see.” Yue Tang slightly raised her brow.
Liu Shi knew she understood and felt gratified by her sharpness: “I believe with your abilities, accomplishing this will be effortless.”
The night the He Family received the order to ambush Princess Yongjia returning to the capital late at night happened to let her overhear it.
The relative of Marquis of Guangling—Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, which had garrisoned the border pass for three generations since enfeoffment—was to return to the capital by imperial decree to serve as regent.
Soon to have a great backer, Marquis of Guangling finally resolved to seize the position of Imperial City Department Envoy.
But He Jianzhong said that the Former Emperor had a decree: even if Prince Duan stepped down, the Imperial City Department would be managed by his successor.
At that time, Princess Yongjia’s brother, Prince Duan’s Heir Apparent, had already died of illness a year prior.
Later, the Former Emperor specially permitted Princess Yongjia to marry a husband, and any offspring she bore could become the heir of Prince Duan’s Mansion.
So when the princess’s child grew up, the position of Imperial City Department Envoy would still slip from Marquis of Guangling’s hands in the future.
Moreover, merely killing Prince Duan, Princess Yongjia would definitely conduct a thorough investigation upon returning to the capital to avenge him.
Thus, Marquis of Guangling decided to go all the way and kill Princess Yongjia as well.
But He Jianzhong was worried: experts surrounded the princess, and she herself had been trained by famous teachers since childhood; succeeding in one strike would be extremely difficult.
Moreover, this operation had to be secretive, without leaking a bit of information, and leave no traces afterward.
So when she was discovered eavesdropping by the He Family father and son and saw the guard in their eyes, she immediately volunteered, proposing to use her cousin’s position serving in the prince’s mansion to go to Prince Duan’s Mansion and scout information.
She successfully obtained the exact time of Princess Yongjia’s return to the city from the female official in the prince’s mansion’s apparel department.
Subsequently, a large force led by the He Family and Zhang Family calculated the princess’s route based on that return time.
Although Liu Shi did not lead the team to kill, she also established great merit and received considerable reward money.
For example, the beaded ornaments on her head, the silk in the trunks, the deposits in the silver bank, and the exoneration for her maternal home’s younger brother’s crime.
Outsiders would never know she gained so many benefits from participating in killing Princess Yongjia.
But she herself never expected that the reward money she earned through merit would be squandered by that wastrel He Hui on wine and women!
His antics outside weren’t enough; he kept bringing people into the mansion one after another!
She had endured for three years.
Since Lin Shi had such a face, why waste it?
She wanted to turn Lin Shi into a knife in her hand to eliminate those two vixens in the inner quarters.
And once Lin Shi had served her purpose, she, as the matriarch, could easily wear her down to death at some opportunity.
“But with elder brother dead, by custom Second Master is in ‘qi chui’ mourning and must observe filial piety for three months. If Master and Madam, in their grief, find out, Second Master won’t get off lightly.
“Not to mention if outsiders catch hold of it and report it, Master will be implicated too. Doesn’t Second Mistress worry?”
“You don’t say, I don’t say—what happens behind closed doors, who would know?” Liu Shi smiled sinisterly.
With He Hui having gotten the bargain, he was even less likely to spread it outside.
Even if the two old things found out, they wouldn’t beat their only son to death too, right?
Yue Tang nodded: “Grandmother is deeply scheming and farsighted.”
Liu Shi set down her cup: “Second Master has been busy from last night until now and is still at the government office. When he returns, he’ll surely need someone to attend him.
“Go now. Serve him well.
“He practices martial arts, so he may be rough in bed, but you’re experienced and don’t need to be coy.
“Serve him well and come to my room. I’ll reward you properly, get you new clothes and jewelry.
“Let you enjoy good fortune.”
Go underground to enjoy good fortune!
Wang Er, the cart driver brought from the Liu Family, had good strength. After the deed was done, have him take care of it.
Guaranteed to be neat and tidy, then she could rest easy forever.
Yue Tang looked at her and smiled.
At this moment, the maidservant walked in from outside the door: “Grandmother! Someone from the government office is here! Per procedure, they need to inspect the scene and question relevant people. Master asks Grandmother to hurry to the main house to await dispatch!”
Liu Shi frowned, then looked at Yue Tang.
Yue Tang stood: “No matter. Grandmother is busy, so have Nanny Li lead me over.”
