Schemes Within Schemes 1

Concubine Ruolan's face turned redder by the minute. This brat was just as detestable as her mother! The fading glances of admiration from the other madams seemed to put the second madam in a distressed state. Concubine Ruolan gripped her fists as her blood raged. Today was supposed to be her special day to show off her prowess. Why was it being ruined by this 'normal'?

"Not only are you a thief, but you're also a liar! You no-good-brat, who taught you to be like this?!"

The second madam exploded at Hongyue, her voice increasing shriller as her face got redder.

"Hongyue has no mother! Other than father's concubines like you, who else can teach Hongyue to be like this?!" Hongyue retorted back, her words deeply irritating the concubine.

Concubine Ruolan started heaving in anger as she felt her mind blanking out in a fury. Wasn't this to say it was her fault that Hongyue was so unruly?! You little wench!

The gazes of admiration from the other wives gradually changed to ridicule at the second concubine.

Concubine Ruolan angrily reached out and snatched the black hair stick from Hongyue's hair. Hongyue looked up helplessly and attempted to take it back.

"Y-you can't do that-" Hongyue was cut off as her hands were elbowed away.

"Why can't I? Do you think just because your mother was the first madam, you can do anything? Why would a good-for-nothing like you be given this anyway?" Concubine Ruolan taunted. Her fingers working quickly, tucking the hair stick inside her robe.

"Why does second madam keep lying? Is it because Father isn't giving you enough jewelry that you're craving for mine now? Hongyue can tell you right now. Mother left this for me. Give it back," Hongyue jeered.

Concubine Ruolan's fingers clutched tightly to the hair stick. How dare Hongyue even speak back to her in this manner?! Who does the little trash think she is? A cherished eldest miss?

While the general did seemed to cherish her, he also killed off her mother. How much would he truly love the child if he didn't even like the mother? This rascal was already poisoned, no better off than a dead person, yet her mouth was still so lively.

The second concubine paused as her eyes blinked.

She almost forgot.

Of course.

Hongyue couldn't live long anyway. The country the fourth madam was from was known for their poison, and the eldest miss was already known for having a weak body, so would it make a difference if this 'normal' happened to die now? If anything happened to Hongyue, Concubine Ruolan could blame it on Hongyue's ailing body. Her eyes narrowed as she rapidly began to collect a tremendous amount of magic into her right hand with an urgent chant under her breath, her heart set on achieving her plan.

The second concubine raised her hand, acting as if she was merely going to hit Hongyue for being disobedient. However, Concubine Ruolan aiming for the spot slightly higher, near Hongyue's temple. If done accurately, Hongyue was going to die from one strike.

Hongyue narrowed her eyes, but she didn't move from her spot.

*Slap*

As Concubine Ruolan's hand made contact, a loud clap sounded and echoed throughout the garden. The eldest miss's head was whipped to the side from the impact.

Hongyue tsked.

Ah.

That hurt.

A small trickle of blood emerged from behind Hongyue's lips and ran down to her chin. However, Hongyue, unwavering, turned her face back, studying the Concubine Ruolan with cold eyes.

"Don't tell me you want to kill me already. I hadn't had enough to play yet," A quiet mocking tone rolled out from Hongyue's smirking mouth. A surge of blue slowly started to emerge in both of her eyes as she eerily focused them on the second madam. A low chuckle rippled out from Hongyue's throat.

The stare the eldest miss gave her reminded Concubine Ruolan of the first madam's unwavering determination from that year, and the second madam felt herself finding the air harder to breathe as a hint of guilt swam into her heart.

No! She did nothing wrong! She was never wrong!

Concubine Ruolan gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowed at Hongyue. She needed to kill this vermin once and for all.

She raised her hand to strike Hongyue again when her wrist was tightly clenched in someone's hand. The concubine nearly wanted to scream. Her wrist felt like it was breaking into tiny pieces. She looked at the person in front of her. A small male servant? Who was this? How dare he stop her!

Hongyue was also stunned to see someone appearing in front of her blocking the attack. Her eyes swirled back to a pitch-black and her pupils contracted as she recognized the physique in front of her.

Qingyu!

Why was he here?

Qingyu's black eyes turned to Hongyue, his lips tightly pursed with his eyebrows furrowed. His gaze was unfathomably dangerous. For a second, they appeared to have softened imperceptibly as they landed on her. Qingyu finally opened his lips and mouthed something to her while he loosened his grip on the concubine's wrist.

'General'

Hongyue's lips curled up in understanding as she began to wail loudly. Her eyes were immediately wet with red rims as she darted towards the garden's entrance just as the general strolled into the garden.

The eldest miss crashed into the general's arms, and General Wei looked down in surprise. Why was Hongyue crying? Why was she also bleeding from the mouth? His eyes drifted to the second madam.

Feeling the situation going too out of hand, Concubine Ruolan knew it was time for her to retreat. She stumbled back while putting on a pitiful look.

"I-I--I just wanted to teach her a lesson for stealing..."The second madam murmured weakly as she stumbled back, her face lowered as if in regret. Then the concubine quickly broke down in tears.