I Was Tricked by a Black Lotus [Transmigration] - Chapter 6

“Leave and close the door,” Shen Qingshu instructed the maid after entering the woodshed.

“It’s too dangerous for you to be alone with him, Miss.”

“He’s tied up like a mummy… he can’t move. Just go.”

The Second Miss has become a completely different person, the maid thought with a start as she retreated.

Hearing the door close, Shen Qingshu let out a sigh of relief. It would have been awkward to start shouting threats with the maid still present.

“Y-y-you… what do you want?” The soaking-wet man stared in terror at Shen Qingshu, who remained perfectly composed.

“Your money or your life?”

“Please, Second Miss Shen, let me go. I don’t want your money. I just wanted to steal something, but I accidentally stumbled into that girl’s courtyard.”

“Spare me the lies. Every thief scouts their target first. You knew that courtyard was occupied only by a lone girl who had traveled from afar. What could you possibly steal?”

“I… I—”

“Shut up,” Shen Qingshu said, her eyes fixed on his. “You came for the girl. Either I break your leg before you leave, or I give you money and you tell me who sent you.”

And then have the thugs guarding the gate throw you into the river, Shen Qingshu thought, but didn’t say aloud.

“Second Miss Shen, there’s really no one. I just acted on impulse when I saw the girl—”

“You wanted to ruin her reputation. You have no shame.”

“Second Miss Shen, you… you… how could you—” The man was stunned by Shen Qingshu’s words.

“What’s wrong with scolding you? Didn’t you think you’d get scolded when you broke into that girl’s room? I’d like to beat you too.”

It was such a relief to finally send everyone away and not have to pretend to be the original owner anymore. Shen Qingshu let out a sigh of relief.

“Alright, let’s get straight to the point. Tell me who sent you here if you don’t want your legs broken.”

“Even if I tell you, they’ll still break my legs.”

“So there is someone behind this,” Shen Qingshu frowned.

“Fine, fine, fine. I don’t want to mess with you. I’ll tell you who’s pulling the strings, but you have to get me out of the city.”

“You tried to take advantage of a young woman, and now you want me to help you?”

“They didn’t really want me to do anything serious. Just make a little commotion to damage the girl’s reputation.”

Shen Qingshu leaned closer. “Speak.”

The man whispered a few words in her ear.

Shen Qingshu straightened up. “I won’t break your legs, but at dawn, someone will take you to the authorities. They’ll charge you with petty theft, and you’ll be locked up for a year or two. By the time you get out, whoever sent you will have lost interest in revenge.”

“Second Miss Shen, please don’t do this! I was just doing my job for money. Besides, the girl’s fine, right?” The man’s voice trembled with panic.

“You frightened her,” Shen Qingshu shot him a sharp glance.

Perhaps intimidated by her piercing gaze, the man fell completely silent.

“Miss, you’re amazing! He’s completely quiet now,” the maidservant giggled.

“Just a clumsy thief trying to steal from the main courtyard,” Shen Qingshu said calmly. “It was dark, and he couldn’t see properly, so he stumbled into the side courtyard. Luckily, Xue’er and I were both there tonight, or the rumors would have been terrible.”

“But wasn’t only Miss Wen there—oh, I understand now. You were both there, of course,” the maidservant quickly realized.

“Are we still returning to Hefeng Courtyard tonight?”

“Of course,” Shen Qingshu replied, her pace quickening slightly.

The stars had faded, and dawn was breaking.

“Why is our Second Miss here so early?” Concubine Shan emerged slowly from the inner chamber.

“Concubine, your tea is terrible,” Shen Qingshu said with a faint sigh.

“Impossible! Before you arrived, the color of the Bitten Cup was perfect, and the tea’s flavor was at its peak,” Concubine Shan protested, sitting beside her.

“Brewing tea requires a calm mind. Perhaps your thoughts are impure, causing even the teacup to lose its flavor,” Shen Qingshu said with a faint smile.

“Second Miss, you’re being deliberately cryptic this early in the morning. Do you think I won’t understand?” Concubine Shan’s face darkened.

Shen Qingshu’s eyes turned cold. “A thief broke into the side courtyard last night.”

“The First Madam is the mistress of the Minister’s Manor. Managing the rear courtyard is none of my concern.”

“But I caught him and interrogated him. Guess what I found out?” Shen Qingshu set down her teacup, the clink muffled.

The concubine forced a smile but remained silent.

Shen Qingshu’s tone sharpened. “Wen Xue’er has no parents and is my cousin. Why would you resort to such despicable tactics against her?”

“Hah,” the concubine sneered. “Today you call her ‘cousin,’ tomorrow you’ll be calling her ‘Auntie.'”

“You—”

“Can’t you see the way your father looks at her? If others hadn’t been present that day, he might have…” The concubine’s voice trembled. “Besides, I never intended for her to be truly defiled. It was just a performance for the Master’s benefit.”

Shen Qingshu suddenly recalled the revolting descriptions from the original novel, and a throbbing headache flared.

“Father would never take Xue’er as a concubine,” Shen Qingshu said firmly, regaining her composure.

A tool for currying favor with the powerful? He’d never make her a concubine.

Shen Qingshu paused, then continued, “You must not act against her again. If you do, I’ll persuade Father to send Shen Zi’an back to our ancestral home for discipline.”

“You… Qingshu, don’t go too far.” The concubine’s defiance faltered at the mention of her son.

“Listen,” Shen Qingshu said earnestly, “I want Wen Xue’er to marry into our family even less than you do. So you’re not allowed to act on your own again.” With that, she turned and left.

“Qingshu,” the Second Concubine called out suddenly to the daughter she had watched grow up, yet who had become utterly unfamiliar overnight, “The Shen family banquet is in two days. All our relatives will be there. With Wen Xue’er’s beauty, her appearance will undoubtedly cause a stir.”

“I know.”

As Shen Qingshu walked out of the courtyard, a faint smile curved her lips. This plot point had existed in the original novel, but the outcome had been different. It seemed that human agency truly could alter fate.

Then the events to come aren’t set in stone either.

When Shen Qingshu returned to Hefeng Courtyard, she found the inner room empty.

A flicker of panic flashed through her eyes as she immediately summoned a servant. “Where’s Miss Wen?”

“She left for Clear Dew Temple early this morning.”

Wen Xue’er must have been frightened and sought solace in prayer. Shen Qingshu felt a pang of sympathy.

Never mind. At least we’ve cleared this hurdle.

The sky was a hazy gray, but a faint, ethereal glow still lingered on the horizon.

Wen Xue’er lifted her skirt and stepped carefully up the stone steps.

When she spotted the figure clad in black robes, she paused, stifling her shallow breaths before approaching.

“Yuwen.”

Yuwen Hao withdrew his gaze from the towering Brahma Bell inside the temple and turned to Wen Xue’er. “I gave Minister Shen a few hints. Be prepared.”

Wen Xue’er’s expression remained calm, and she nodded slightly.

“All I need you to do is whisper sweet nothings and subtly pry for information,” Yuwen Hao said with a faint smile. “Wen Xue’er, don’t waste your beauty.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Brahma Bell began to toll.

Whether it was the bell’s ethereal resonance or the morning mist’s biting chill, Wen Xue’er shivered slightly.

“Wen Xue’er, it’s alright,” Yuwen Hao said, glancing at the bell.

“Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

“No, I should head back. I’m exhausted,” Yuwen Hao replied lazily.

Wen Xue’er nodded slightly and walked toward the temple.

“Where are you going?”

“To pray to Buddha.”

“Sister.”

Shen Qingshu was dozing off out of sheer boredom when a soft, gentle voice suddenly called out beside her ear.

She looked up to see Wen Xue’er’s serene expression.

“Xue’er! Sit down, sit down,” Shen Qingshu said, her mood brightening at the sight of her. “I heard you went to the temple. How are you feeling now? Is there still any lingering distress in your heart?”

“With you by my side last night, I slept peacefully,” Wen Xue’er murmured, her head bowed slightly as her fingertips tapped restlessly against her knee. “I don’t remember much of what happened.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Actually, I could come to your courtyard to keep you company tonight, tomorrow night, and the night after.”

Wen Xue’er paused, then said, “I… wouldn’t dare trouble you, Elder Sister. I’m used to being alone.”

“Then I’ll send extra guards to your courtyard.”

Wen Xue’er slowly produced a peace talisman. “This is for you.”

Shen Qingshu took it, examining it closely. “Did you go to the temple just to get this?”

“Though I’m an outsider, the Shen family has treated me with kindness. If I didn’t pray for blessings, I’d feel uneasy.”

No, the Shen family is just wearing a mask. You can’t trust them. Shen Qingshu’s gaze darkened.

A flicker of unease flashed through Wen Xue’er’s eyes. “Elder Sister, why are you looking at me like that?”

Shen Qingshu’s expression softened as she tied the talisman to her waist. “Wen Xue’er, do you trust me?”

“You’ve been so kind to me. Of course I trust you.”

“Drink this,” Shen Qingshu said, handing over a bowl of pitch-black medicine.

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