The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 31

“Master! Madam! The Regent has returned with the Third Young Lady!”

Xu Xin ran out of the inner room, blowing at his beard in disbelief. “Who did you say returned with the Third Young Lady?”

The servant kept his head low and replied, “Reporting to Master, it is the Regent. They have already reached the gate!”

Xu Xin narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a wide smile. “Excellent! I didn’t expect the girl Yunxia to be as capable as her mother! No wonder he came over last time to punish Xiangxiang; he was waiting for this opportunity all along!”

Xu Xin glared at Lady Yang, who was standing nearby. “Keep yourself in line from now on! We might have to rely on Yunxia in the future!”

Xu Ruoxiang cried out indignantly, “Father!”

Xu Xin didn’t even look at her. With a sycophantic smile, he hurried out to greet them. “Your Highness, please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner. My apologies for the lack of preparation.”

Lu Zhao pressed his lips thin, his face cold. He waved his hand toward the guards behind him. “Lord Xu, I must ask your wife and eldest daughter to take a trip to the Court of State Ceremonies.”

Xu Xin froze for a moment. Thinking it was just a minor squabble like last time, he rubbed his hands and smiled. “Regent, may I ask what this is about? This seems a bit excessive.”

Xigui cupped his hands and said, “Lord Xu, your wife and eldest daughter are suspected of involvement in a murder case. After the banquet at the General’s Mansion, the Third Young Lady of the Xu family was abandoned in the back mountains for no reason and nearly lost her life.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ruoxiang’s face turned pale. She whispered to a nearby maidservant, “Quick! Go find Prince Qing!”

The maidservant quietly slipped away.

The guards made a “please” gesture toward Lady Yang and Xu Ruoxiang. Lady Yang, though pale, forced herself to remain calm. As long as she didn’t confess, no one could force her! No one knew what happened last night!

Xu Ruoxiang stepped in front of her mother, her eyes full of disdain. She sneered, “Can the Regent just arrest people without cause? Xu Yunxia, now that you’ve climbed your way up to a high branch, are you actually going to harm your own family?”

Having said that, Xu Ruoxiang leaned closer to Yunxia’s ear and whispered, “You wouldn’t want the matter regarding Yunqiu to be known by all of Yindou, would you?”

Hearing this, Yunxia swung her hand and slapped Ruoxiang hard across the face. Caught off guard, Ruoxiang stumbled and fell to the ground. Yunxia leaned down and gripped her chin fiercely. “I’m telling you, you’d better keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make sure you never speak again!”

Yunxia sneered, “That’s right, I have climbed a high branch. Oh, I forgot to tell you; Prince Qing might not be coming! My sister has already sent someone to inform him. You’ve always styled yourself as the future Consort of Prince Qing, yet in the end, you couldn’t even manage to become a concubine. Tsk tsk, how pathetic!”

Ruoxiang looked up at Yunxia in shock and was about to lunge at her when Yunxia dodged and ducked behind Lu Zhao. Her voice became charming and delicate. “Your Highness, save me! She wants to hit me!”

Lu Zhao placed his hand gently on her shoulder, shielding her in his arms. He said deeply, “Xigui!”

Xigui’s lip twitched. Who exactly hit whom? He had seen the ruthlessness the Third Young Lady just displayed and it even scared him, but his master had spoken. What could he do? He had no choice but to block Xu Ruoxiang with his sword.

Xu Xin stammered, “Xiaxia, listen to your father. You and Xiangxiang are biological sisters, after all. If her reputation is ruined, it won’t benefit you either! Besides, there is no evidence.”

Leaning in Lu Zhao’s arms, Yunxia looked at Xu Xin with cold eyes. This was her “dear” father! She let out a soft laugh. “Father, there is a witness. The carriage driver has already been taken to the Court of State Ceremonies. Once Mother and Sister go there, the trial can begin.”

Lady Yang’s vision went dark, and she nearly collapsed. She steadied herself and stared at Yunxia with venomous eyes. “Fine. I truly didn’t expect you to have such capability. I should have finished you off directly instead of leaving you in that wolf’s den!”

Lady Yang adjusted her clothes and squeezed Xu Ruoxiang’s hand. “Regent, I acted alone last night. My daughter knew nothing of it. I ask that you do not make things difficult for her.”

Xu Ruoxiang cried out with tears in her eyes, “Mother!”

“Ruoxiang! Mother will be fine.” Lady Yang looked at Xu Xin, only to see him averting his gaze, unwilling to say a single word for her. Her heart felt cold; this was the man she had followed her whole life!

“Take them both!” Lu Zhao ignored her and spoke indifferently. The guards led Xu Ruoxiang and Lady Yang away.

Along the way, people pointed and whispered. News quickly spread through Yindou: the wife and eldest daughter of Xu Xin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, had been taken to the Court of State Ceremonies.

After they were taken away, Yunxia ran hurriedly toward the backyard, but there was no sign of Yunqiu.

“Sister! Sister!” Yunxia called out anxiously. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Could Sister have gone out to look for me?

Lu Zhao grabbed her as she ran aimlessly and comforted her. “Xiaxia, don’t worry. I will send people out to search.”

“Alright. I will go look in the places Sister usually visits.” Yunxia pulled Lu Zhao and headed outside.

The story shifts to Yunqiu. She walked all the way from home to the Pei residence, feeling lost and despondent. The Pei residence was no longer as desolate as it once was; it was now bustling with visitors.

Yunqiu hesitated at the entrance, unsure of how to go in. She was so afraid to face Pei Shu. He was such a gentle person; what right did she have to face him now?

The elderly gateman recognized Yunqiu and secretly went back to report to Pei Shu. “Master, the Second Young Lady of the Xu family has been lingering at the gate for a long time.”

“What?” Pei Shu stood up abruptly in shock. Qiuqiu! She’s finally willing to see me! Joy filled his heart. Since the results of the examinations were posted, Qiuqiu had been avoiding him and had even mentioned breaking off the engagement. He had to get a clear answer this time!

Pei Shu tapped the table and murmured, “You, go invite her into the study.” He paused and then shouted, “Never mind, I’ll go find her myself!”

Pei Shu walked out the main gate but didn’t see Yunqiu. Panic set in, thinking she had already left. He chased after her and saw that slender figure. He grabbed her arm from behind and pressed her firmly against the wall of an alley.

“Ah!”

A surge of terror overwhelmed her, and Yunqiu instinctively began to struggle.

Pei Shu held her tightly, gripping her waist. His eyes were tender yet wounded as he asked in a raspy voice, “Qiuqiu, do you not want me anymore?”

Yunqiu looked up with tear-filled eyes and only then realized it was Pei Shu. Her body slowly stopped trembling. She bit her lip and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Pei Shu’s hand slowly brushed against her cheek, his fingertips slightly rough. He stared intently at Yunqiu; she had grown even thinner! Her once gentle, smiling face was now clouded with sorrow, and her waist felt fragile under his hand.

A sharp pain shot through Pei Shu’s heart. He rested his chin gently against her hair, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremble. “Qiuqiu, what’s wrong? Tell me, alright?”

His voice rose at the end, filled with both comfort and allure.

Yunqiu fought back her tears. How could she tell him everything that had happened? She couldn’t say it.

Yunqiu pushed Pei Shu away and said through gritted teeth, “It’s nothing. Xiaxia didn’t come home last night. Do you know where she went?”

Pei Shu forcefully pulled Yunqiu back into his arms and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “You know that isn’t what I’m asking you.”

“Qiuqiu, don’t hide things from me, hm?”

Pei Shu’s voice was magnetic, and his arms tightened around her as if he wanted to pull her into his very soul.

Yunqiu’s eyes were rimmed with red, her lips trembling. She kept her gaze lowered. “Ashu, don’t force me.”

Pei Shu’s dark eyes watched her without blinking. He slowly reached out to trace Yunqiu’s lips, pressing them suggestively. He let out a soft laugh. “Qiuqiu, you know I don’t want to hurt you. But what can I do? I want you to stay by my side!”

Confused, Yunqiu looked up at him with watery eyes, her mouth slightly agape. Before she could react, Pei Shu struck the back of her neck with his palm, and she lost consciousness.

Holding her limp body, a hidden madness flickered in Pei Shu’s dark eyes. The corners of his mouth curled upward. “Silly Qiuqiu, blame me for being too gentle with you and hiding myself too well. How could I ever let you leave?”