Chapter 25: An Apology

The Third Concubine's face turned pale. "Blacky! No! Come back! "

A smile played across Hua Mengshi's lips.

With the Long Red destroyed by the Third Concubine's dog, Madam Hua and Hua Qiyue would blame her and Hua Xiaoyi. Plus, it would remove Qiyue's leverage over the family's income. Meanwhile, any ire Hua Mengshi had been receiving from Madam Hua would be lessened while her attention was on those who had destroyed the Long Reds.

Quick as a wink, the black dog stepped into the red clay. But, just as it was about to trample one of the divine herbs, all of the Long Reds in the yard disappeared!

The black dog slammed into the wall and fell to the ground, dazed.

Frightened, the Third Concubine quickly gave order for Blacky to be taken away. She glanced suspiciously at the Second Concubine and Hua Mengshi.

Where did they go?

The Second Concubine, Cheng, was so surprised, that she didn't even notice the Third Concubine's accusing looks.

"Oh my God! I had heard that some magical herbs know to escape danger or being picked by someone other than their owners… but I never quite believed it!"

Those servants who had bullied Hua Qiyue shouted in shock, totally forgetting that the Second Concubine was still here.

"Humph! If they just disappear, what good are they? She's just playing tricks!" Hua Xiaoyi was irritated. In just a few days, Hua Qiyue had not only shown her up twice, but also gained the love of Madam Hua.

The Third Concubine took the hand of Hua Xiaoyi. "Xiaoyi, don't talk nonsense. Let's go back to our yard," she said, dragging a protesting Hua Xiaoyi out of the yard.

The others waited for some time for the Long Reds to reappear, but they were disappointed. Feeling guilty, they eventually began to leave.

In the end, only Madam Cheng and Hua Mengshi remained. A slow-burning hatred was visible in Hua Mengshi's eyes.

Madam Cheng gazed at the spot where the Long Reds had been and sighed.

"Let's go back, Mengshi."

Hua Mengshi returned to her court and vented her anger by breaking several vases. She did not stop until Nanny Zhou inervened.

"Second Miss, this is not the way to go. We have to find another way to remove that girl as soon as possible, otherwise..."

Hua Mengshi nodded. She understood that now Hua Qiyue was not the same as before. If she didn't act now, there would be no place for her in the Hua Mansion.

Hua Mengshi stretched out her hand to pinch off her favorite albizzia flower in its vase.

* * *

Returning to Hua Mansion, Butler Wang told Hua Qiyue what had happened at noon. Hua Qiyue smirked. "I've told you! The herbs have a mind of their own, and can't be stolen by others. It's not necessary to have them guarded. But the Second Concubine and Hua Mengshi will definitely continue looking for a way to destroy my reputation."

"What should we do?" Lvxin and Youshui asked in unison.

"There are always effective countermeasures," Hua Qiyue said calmly. She pinched the wine cup in her hand, turning it into powder.

Butler Wang's eyes gleamed. It seemed that Lady Qiyue really had changed. Or maybe she had just been biding her time. Maybe listening to her had been a good idea, after all!

He left Cuihua Court and returned home. The servants' houses were not as big as the owners', but the butler's was considered quite spacious.

His wife was lying on the bed. After Madam Hua's punishment, it would take a month or two for her to recover completely.

A servant was taking care of Nanny Wang, at Hua Qiyue's request.

Butler Wang dismissed the servant and turned to his wife. "How are you feeling?"

Nanny Wang opened her eyes and sighed when she saw his husband. "How do you think? My bones are broken and everything hurts."

Butler Wang patted her hand. "I know you are suffering, but we were right to listen to Lady Qiyue. When you have recovered, you will need to look after her well."

Nanny Wang remembered Hua Qiyue's sever expression and looked at him in confusion.

He told her what happened recently. Nanny Wang's eyes shone when she heard that Hua Qiyue rewarded 1,200 silver to Butler Wang for his cooperation. That was over 30 times what she made in a year!

"Lady Qiyue is different now. These days, the Second Concubine and the Third Concubine have seriously damaged their reputations because they don't know how to handle her. Lady Qiyue has also earned the respect of Madam Hua, who will return tomorrow."

Nanny Wang was startled at the confidence in her husband's voice, but if he was convinced this was the right decision, she would go along with it.

* * *

In the Birong Court, the Third Concubine was walking around anxiously. Hua Xiaoyi, sitting nearby, shouted, "Mom, what are you doing?"

"I thought Hua Qiyue would come to us after she returned, but she hasn't. She has to have noticed the Long Reds are missing." Her eyebrows were knitted, filled with bitterness.

Hua Xiaoyi snorted. "What does she dare to do to you, even if she comes? Don't forget, you are her elder!"

"She wouldn't dare to punish me, no. But when her grandmother returns..." The Third Concubine looked sad and hesitant.

Hua Xiaoyi pouted, "Mom, don't worry. This new Qiyue is not a fool. She'll realize it was Mengshi who got the dog to enter her yard. Maybe they'll fight each other!"

Concubine Pan was usually a calm person. She reflected that she should have taught Xiaoyi more patience.

As it was, she just furrowed her brows and stared at the flowers outside the window. The bright red clusters reminded her of Hua Qiyue's Long Red.

She wasn't sure how it had happened, but Hua Qiyue was now the favorite of Madam Hua. Fighting against her would lead to a miserable end.

What's more, she'd gained the help of a master. After all, no ordinary person would own the seeds of Long Red. It was even stranger that she could cultivate them so well.

It was also weird that the soil of the Cuihua Court was brown, but the clay burying the Long Red was red.

"Nanny Luo, give me the latest set of head ornaments. Xiaoyi, dress up. We're going to Cuihua Court."

Hua Xiaoyi looked at her in confusion. "Mom, don't tell me you're going to suck up to that bitch?"

"Xiaoyi, shut up!" her mother said sharply. "If you don't restrain yourself, you will lose your life! Do you remember what happened to Lanzhu? She may only have been a maid, but there is nothing stopping Qiyue from doing the same to you!"

Concubine Pan trembled with anger, and Hua Xiaoyi stared, mouth agape. Her mother had never reprimanded her like this.

Regaining her composure, Hua Xiaoyi snorted dismissively, but didn't say a word.

Nanny Luo returned with the requested accessories, and the three headed to the Cuihua Court to apologize.

When the group arrived, they were startled to see the six stalks of Long Red waving gently in the breeze.

Inside, Hua Qiyue was having dinner while watching Tianci gulp down a bowl of Long Red soup. It seemed the scars on his face were less noticeable than before.

Because the divine herbs had returned, Concubine Pan engaged in small talk with Qiyue for a short time, attempting to keep the mood light. There was no reason to tell her about the mishap with Blacky.

Hua Qiyue was quite polite to Concubine Pan and seemed to harbor no ill will.

After the group had left, Hua Qiyue put a steamed chicken in Tianci's bowl. "Tianci, eat more! You're too skinny!"

Tianci didn't need to be told twice — this was the best food he'd ever had in his life!

Despite Tianci's obedience, Hua Qiyue was in a gloomy mood. He used to be so mischievous, playing tricks on the maids and people he didn't like.

It seemed his good behavior was a by-product of his torture, and that just made her wish for the old Tianci even more.

Hua Qiyue's eyes narrowed. After an adoption, the party that had given up the child was required to visiting the adopting party after one month, which meant that Zhou Zhicheng and Princess Huizhen would have to come.

She'd be ready for them.