Chapter 54 Releasing the Prisoner

In a certain secluded courtyard, Meng Wenhui and Lin Yaoer resided.

Ever since their return, Meng Wenhui had been utterly absent-minded.

Lin Yaoer had spoken to her a few times, but she had merely brushed her off with perfunctory replies, her mind elsewhere.

Once or twice might have been overlooked, but three or four times made it impossible not to notice her unusual behavior.

Therefore, shortly after they returned, Lin Yaoer went to Meng Wenhui’s room. As soon as she stepped inside, she indeed saw Meng Wenhui looking somewhat vacant and lost in thought, clearly deep in preoccupation.

She had not bothered to have a maid announce her, entering directly and walking right up to the other woman's side...

"Sister Wenhui...?"

This call undoubtedly summoned Meng Wenhui's wandering soul back to her body.

Startled, Meng Wenhui instantly turned her head. Seeing it was Lin Yaoer, she relaxed slightly.

"What are you doing? You scared me to death..."

Lin Yaoer sat down beside her. "You're the one who scared me to death. Why are you so out of it?"

"I..."

Meng Wenhui paused and did not continue.

Lin Yaoer studied her expression closely.

Even without being told, she could guess a thing or two. With this thought in mind, she simply asked aloud.

"Is it related to Cousin Lu?"

Meng Wenhui was clearly somewhat flustered. Her lips trembled twice, and she remained silent.

Lin Yaoer asked, "Sister Wenhui, do you want to become Cousin Lu's concubine...?"

"Of course not!"

Only then did Meng Wenhui retort.

Lin Yaoer had seen through it long ago.

During these past days, Meng Wenhui had not been happy. The reason naturally stemmed from the fact that Cousin Lu had not arranged for them to stay at the Regional Commander's Mansion.

Beyond that matter, another event had subsequently caused her even greater heartbreak: they had discovered that Cousin Lu kept a beauty housed in his estate.

Meng Wenhui was the daughter of the elder sister of Lady Lin, the wife of the Lu family's third branch; Lin Yaoer was the daughter of Lady Lin's elder brother, making the two of them cousins as well.

Lin Yaoer's father currently held a fourth-rank official post as the Inspector of Zhongzhou.

Meng Wenhui's parents had died when she was young. First taken in by her maternal uncle's family, she was later claimed by Lady Lin.

Lin Yaoer had shared a close bond with her since childhood, keeping very close company. Her current stay at the Lu estate appeared on the surface to be a visit of a few months to keep her aunt Lady Lin company, but in reality, it was an arrangement intentionally made by her family.

After all, the Lu family was illustrious—so illustrious that they practically overshadowed the heavens.

To say nothing of the Duke of Ningguo, Lu Zhi himself, at the tender age of twenty-three, already held a prominent second-rank official position.

It was precisely because of this illustrious status that Lin Yaoer could not hope to reach him, let alone Meng Wenhui.

Having given her reply, Meng Wenhui turned her gaze away.

Lin Yaoer knew she was being hypocritical.

The two of them had already lingered in Yangzhou for more than twenty days.

Their original journey here was because an elder female cousin from Lady Lin's branch, who had married into Yangzhou, had fallen gravely ill and was not expected to live long. Lady Lin had sent her niece to visit on her behalf and convey several messages in person, with Lin Yaoer accompanying her. Now that the matter had long been settled, they would soon be returning to Chang'an in a few days.

Lin Yaoer sighed. "Sigh, if Sister Wenhui truly likes Cousin Lu, you should speak with our aunt when we return. From what I can see, both the Dowager Madam Lu and the Duchess hold Sister in high regard. Sister has the looks and the talent; they will surely fulfill your devoted wish..."

Hearing this, Meng Wenhui turned her head back, as if about to speak, but stopped herself. With a somewhat evasive look in her eyes, she turned away again.

Sensing something unusual, Lin Yaoer caught her arm.

"Does Sister have something to hide from me?"

Meng Wenhui lightly clenched the handkerchief in her hand, gave no answer, and avoided looking at Lin Yaoer, her gaze wandering.

If she were to ask her own heart, she had indeed entertained that notion—she did want to become Cousin Lu's concubine.

However, she had not expected him to treat them both with such cold indifference, nor had she anticipated that he kept a woman outside.

And that woman was...

Meng Wenhui did not dare to think further, her heart pounding wildly.

Lin Yaoer asked again, "Sister Wenhui? What on earth is the matter? What happened?"

Meng Wenhui ultimately kept it to herself, turning her head back to acknowledge what the other had said.

"Yes, but... do not speak of this to Aunt. A forced melon is not sweet. I... at the very least, need to know Cousin Lu's intentions. We are leaving soon; tomorrow, I want to go to the Regional Commander's Mansion by myself, see Cousin Lu once, and observe his attitude toward me before deciding whether or not to mention it upon our return..."

Usually extremely bashful, Meng Wenhui surprised Lin Yaoer greatly, yet the latter felt her reasoning made sense. After pondering for a moment, Lin Yaoer nodded.

"Do you not need me to accompany you, Sister Wenhui?"

Meng Wenhui replied immediately, "No need, I can go by myself..."

With these words spoken, the conversation came to an end. The two exchanged a few more brief remarks and then changed the subject...

After Lin Yaoer left, Meng Wenhui returned to her bedchamber clutching her chest and sat down on the bed.

Earlier that morning when they went out, while riding in the carriage, she had lifted the curtain to casually look outside and had seen a woman in the opposite carriage doing the same—lifting the curtain to look out just like her, only to immediately drop it upon seeing her.

Though it all happened in a mere fraction of a second and she had only glanced at the other person once, she had recognized her instantly.

The person turned out to be... none other than Qinglian, the maid of that missing Shen Yanshi...

A thunderous roar instantly exploded in her mind.

A horrifying guess surfaced in her thoughts...

If that were truly the case...

Meng Wenhui did not dare to pursue the thought further, her heart racing frantically.

*********

At the Regional Commander's Mansion, Tinglan Pavilion.

Upon hearing the maid's report, Yanshi fell into deep thought, standing slightly stunned.

Things were likely progressing in the direction she desired, except...

"...If as you say, tomorrow she will surely come to verify it."

Qinglian’s pupils dilated sharply. "Then tomorrow, the two of us just need to deliberately go out and let her catch a glimpse of us!"

Yanshi thought for a moment and slowly said, "No. We cannot be certain whether she will mention this matter to Lin Yaoer. If she does not, even if she sees through the ruse, she is very likely to keep the secret for Lu Zhi..."

Taohong asked, "Then... what should we do?"

After pondering for a brief moment, Yanshi instructed Qinglian and Taohong, "The two of you go and tell the people outside that I am hungry and wish to eat, and that I want you both to go to the kitchen to select some dishes for me. The head maid will most likely consent. Then you two shall go. Once there, simply order a few ordinary dishes that I usually like, but remember—while the kitchen staff are not paying attention, help me steal something: I need vinegar and onions..."

Though Qinglian and Taohong had no idea what their young mistress intended to do, they both immediately complied.

Before long, the two of them departed.

Just as Yanshi had anticipated, when the head maid heard that Yanshi wanted to eat, she was too overjoyed to hesitate, immediately dispatching two maids to accompany them to the kitchen.

After they left, Yanshi sat alone in the room, meditating for a short while.

She felt this might be the safest method...

Half an hour later, Qinglian and Taohong returned, having accomplished their task quite smoothly.

Closing the door behind them and entering the bedchamber, the two carefully produced the stolen items.

Delighted at the sight, Yanshi immediately asked her maids to grind some ink for her.

She sat before the desk and imitated Lu Zhi’s handwriting to write a letter addressed to the Duke of Ningguo.

The letter spanned two pages, but the second page was almost entirely blank.

Changing direction, she picked up a clean wolf-hair brush, dipped it in the juice of vinegar and onions, and wrote another letter in her own name.

When she finished writing everything, she instructed Qinglian to take the sheets out to dry.

Once dried, nothing whatsoever could be seen on the paper.

Qinglian and Taohong were wild with joy. "Young Mistress!!"

Yanshi pressed her index finger to her lips, folded the letters, tucked them into an envelope, and handed it to Qinglian.

"If my calculations are correct, Meng Wenhui will come tomorrow—either by herself or with Lin Yaoer. If she comes alone, even if she confirms our presence here, she will probably refuse to help us. If she comes with Lin Yaoer, there is a chance she might help us, but it is only a possibility. Having loved Lu Zhi for many years, the likelihood of her siding with Lu Zhi is greater. Therefore, as long as she is present, things may not succeed. We cannot take risks. Tomorrow, neither of you needs to appear before the two of them; simply use Lu Zhi's name to have another maid deliver this letter into their hands, instructing them to take it back to Chang'an and give it to Uncle Lu..."

"Understood!"

Both maids nodded in unison.

Lowering her voice further, Yanshi said, "I suspect Lu Zhi will not see her, nor will he even allow her to enter the estate..."

Her voice became barely audible at this point. She leaned close to the ears of the two maids and whispered the remainder of her instructions.

Qinglian and Taohong listened and nodded one after another. At that exact moment, footsteps and a maid's joyful voice sounded from outside the door.

"Young Madam, the meals have arrived... and they are all the dishes Young Madam wished for..."

Yanshi’s small face grew cold. After the maid arranged the dishes that Qinglian and Taohong had ordered moments before, Yanshi rose, walked over to the table, sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and began to eat slowly.

*********

At dusk, Lu Zhi returned to the estate.

Before he could even make a move, the head maid of Tinglan Pavilion came over first, entering his study to report the good news.

"Young Madam has partaken of her meal... Though she did not eat much, she asked for food of her own accord, and even sent the maids to order specific dishes from the kitchen..."

Lu Zhi raised his hand and flicked his fingers slightly.

The maid bowed and retreated.

*********

The next day, at noon.

A carriage halted before the gates of the Regional Commander's Mansion. A servant boy opened the door, and a young lady slowly descended—none other than Meng Wenhui.

Lifting her head, Meng Wenhui gazed at the plaque on the mansion gates. Under the noon sun, the large characters gleamed with gold, making them all the more striking and imposing.

Her heart beat nervously. This time, without asking a maid, she walked toward the vermilion gates herself.

Approaching shortly after, she had her maid knock on the door.

She had calculated the time for her arrival, figuring that by now, her cousin should have just returned from court and be at home.

Before long, the door was opened from within.

The doorkeeper asked politely, "Whom is the young lady seeking?"

Meng Wenhui’s heart pounded wildly. "This humble woman is surnamed Meng, given name Wenhui, from the Chang'an Lu family..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the doorkeeper interrupted her: "Pardon me, Miss Meng, but my lord is occupied and cannot see anyone..."

Meng Wenhui’s heart sank, and a sense of urgency gripped her. She hadn't even finished speaking.

"...Brother, I am... I am your lord's cousin, I..."

The doorkeeper interrupted her once more: "Apologies, Miss Meng, please return..."

Meng Wenhui’s face flushed slightly as she reached out to block the door that was beginning to close.

"Is Cousin not at home? I can wait a little while, I can..."

The doorkeeper stated bluntly, "Truly sorry, Miss Meng, but my lord left strict instructions beforehand. I must ask Miss Meng to return early..."

Meng Wenhui froze instantly, her hand blocking the door losing all its strength. Her heart plunged as if into an icy abyss, and she suddenly understood why the doorkeeper began turning her away the moment he heard her name...

Amidst this daze, the door was shut.

Meng Wenhui felt an instant emptiness in her heart, as if nothing could ever fill it again.

She stood frozen for a long time before finally setting her foot forward and stepping down the stairs...

Was he protecting her? Or did he detest her to this degree?

Moving as if her soul had left her body, she reached her carriage and was about to climb in when she heard a woman's voice calling out from behind her.

Meng Wenhui turned her head to see that the vermilion gates had opened at some point. A woman dressed as a maid stood in the entrance—someone she did not recognize.

The maid descended the steps and ran toward her.

"Are you Miss Meng Wenhui..."

Suspicious, Meng Wenhui nodded and replied, "I am. You are..."

Without answering, the maid produced a letter from her bosom.

"My lord troubles Miss Meng to take this back to Chang'an, for the Duke..."

Meng Wenhui's heart fluttered. With trembling hands, she immediately took the letter, finding it hard to believe as she asked, "Your lord asked me to take this back?"

The maid replied, "Yes."

A smile instantly bloomed across Meng Wenhui’s face. She nodded repeatedly, clenching the letter tightly in her hand, and shortly thereafter, boarded the carriage.

The carriage started forward and departed...