Counterattack of the Concubine’s Invincible Daughter

41. Encountering the Trouble She Feared the Most

Translator: Snowball

People in martial sects were always full of courage and uprightness. If they could make their own decisions based on their own strength, how could they be subservient to others?

Ling Yue was a quite dexterous man and didn’t seem like a slippery person. It was more likely that he did this dirty job merely because he was out of choice, just like her.

Seeing him remain silent, Mu Yingxue said, “A penny is enough to conquer a hero. Brother Ling, you don’t have to feel embarrassed about this. To tell you the truth, I don’t have a receipt on me, but I do have a banknote. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share it with you.”

Ling Yue didn’t expect her to suddenly change her attitude and asked uncertainly, “What do you mean, Miss Mu?”

Mu Yingxue said directly, “With all due respect, I heard that you’re only doing this because you rely on the Mei family to make a living, taking their money and solving their problems. Since everyone was engaged in business, it was not a big deal. No matter how much Mei Qianqian gave to you, I would give you 40 percent more than hers. Brother Ling, what do you think?”

In her previous life, she wouldn’t do such a boring thing, taking out the money she just got and even gave it to a bunch of robbers who blocked her way. She would just solve it with force. But at this time, there was no other way. She didn’t want to expose the fact that she knew martial arts for the time being, or it would be another trouble.

After listening to her condition, Ling Yue and the rest of his subordinates hesitated. It would be a lie to say that he wasn’t moved, but could he completely believe this woman in front of him?

“Miss Mei gave us 500 taels of silver!” One of them raised his neck and said, “What’s more, we are not doing a one-shot business. If we take your money, how can we survive in this martial world in the future since we broke our promise?”

After saying that, he felt that he had gone a little far. He asked Ling Yue in a low voice, “Am I right, boss?”

Before Ling Yue could reply, Mu Yingxue had already cast him a sidelong glance. “What you said makes sense. It’s a pity that we’re in the imperial city, not the residence of martial sects. One can only lead a better life if they find a more reliable boss here. However, in the imperial city, not only the Mei family has resources and connections.

Do you know why Miss Mei wanted you to take the receipt from me? It was only because she hated me for stealing her position in the Moonlight Pavilion and was jealous that I had a good relationship with the princes, needless to say the rewards bestowed by His Majesty. However, I don’t know what is wrong with her that made here suspect me of pawning the imperial rewards and even asked you here to take a receipt from me, which didn’t even exist.

Oh, by the way, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Childe Nongyue about this. He can testify as my friend.”

The crowd, led by Ling Yue, was stunned. They hadn’t expected that this young lady from the Mu’s mansion, who was beautiful but obviously not as rich as Mei Qianqian, had such a strong background. The scales in their hearts couldn’t help but lean towards her direction.

Mu Yingxue sighed inwardly. After all, she used to be a decisive and vengeful person, but now she had to spend time and energy in talking to a bunch of low-level robbers. She felt like a hero at the end of her wits right now.

Fortunately, her half-truth seemed to have worked. It was time for the other party to have no other choice.

So she added, “If the deal between you and me is done today, I will never treat you badly in the future.

Of course, if you didn’t want to make the deal, I wouldn’t force you, but I have to remind you. Let alone the fact that I don’t have a receipt. Even if I do, you may not be able to take it away from me today!”

In her previous life, the killing experience had created her character as distinguishing gratitude and resentment clearly, giving her a sharp temperament. Ling Yue and the others saw the killing intent in her eyes, and then recalled the dried twigs and fallen leaves. They actually felt that her martial arts skills were unfathomable.

It was just that he couldn’t verify it personally, so he didn’t know if it was true or false. However, Ling Yue knew that he didn’t dare to probe her true ability, because he couldn’t put all of their lives on the line.

“I believe Miss Mu is a girl keeping your promises. Five hundred taels of silver plus 40 percent silver of that, a total of 700. I hope that I will be able to obtain all the money at this time tomorrow.”

A wise man submitted to the circumstances. She was right. Since it was just business, it didn’t matter whom they were dealing with. They were not those chivalrous men who prided themselves on loyalty, justice, and morality in the Jianghu. In the final analysis, struggling in Jianghu was nothing more than making a living.

“Deal.”

Mu Yingxue smiled slightly and agreed indifferently, hiding her murderous intent. Under the yellow leaves, the woman was graceful, gentle as well as beautiful. Ling Yue almost fell for her when he saw her beauty like that.

After these people left halfway, Mu Yingxue let out a sigh of relief. It was true that literary competition took more time than martial arts competition.

However, in this way, not only did she conceal her true martial skills, but also gained a bargaining chip for herself to compete with Mei Qianqian. Although she took Mei Qianqian as dirt inwardly, it was troublesome to keep her around for too long.

Throwing the withered leaf on the ground, she thought for a while. In consideration of her safety, it seemed necessary to meet Xuanyuan Sheng first. After all, with the most favored prince in the court to deal with the aftermath, the influence that she pawned the rewards would be eliminated.

At the moment, she changed her way and went to the Moonlight Pavilion.

Liu’er had been on tenterhooks along the way. On one hand, she was worried that something might happen to her miss. On the other hand, she was afraid that the pawning thing might be revealed. She wished that she could immediately turn back to look for Mu Yingxue. But at the thought of her miss’s instructions, she had to force herself to bear the fear and worry and reluctantly walked back to the Mu’s mansion.

After arriving at the mansion, she returned to Ouyang Ruo according to Mu Yingxue’s instructions, lying that her master had gone to the Moonlight Pavilion and asked her to come back to report to Ouyang Ruo first, so she could rest assured.

Ouyang Ruo was not suspicious of her, only sighed softly and said, “My girl, why so late today?”

Then, she turned to Mammy Qiao and said, “Mammy Qiao, don’t you think I’m too greedy? Before Yingxue recovered, I always expected her to recover quickly and become independent and strong like all the healthy children. Now that she had recovered and can hardly be seen in this mansion, I begin to worry that something might happen to her and even miss the days she pestered me.”

Ouyang Ruo was brought up by Mammy Qiao ever since she was a child, so they were like mother and daughter. Mammy Qiao looked at her and felt sorry for her. She comforted her and said, “Miss, your little baby has grown up and she has to leave you and live alone one day. What’s more, she has just recovered. After being locked up in the mansion for so long, it’s normal for her to like the outside world now. Miss Yingxue is a filial child. She knows what she is doing.”

Hearing what she just said, Ouyang Ruo felt comforted and a faint smile appeared on her face, “Mammy Qiao, I understand. I’m just complaining nonsense to you. I should be happy that Yingxue has free spirits now.”

“I’m glad that you think so.” Mammy Qiao smiled and then said to Liu’er, “Liu’er, let’s go and prepare dinner together.”

Liu’er was quite nervous to hear their conversation aside. So the moment Mammy Qiao summoned her, she did not hesitate and agreed immediately.

When they were about to go out, they heard a noise outside.

Ouyang Ruo frowned and had a bad feeling, “Mammy Qiao, what’s wrong?”

“I’ll take a look.”

Seeing Mammy Qiao go out, Liu’er was so nervous and followed Mammy Qiao out hastily.

As soon as they went out, a group of people came from outside. The leading one was Xu Min’s personal maid Hongyu, and the butler of the mansion, Wan Fu, was standing next to her.

Liu’er’s heart was thumping wildly. She thought to herself, “Oh, no, the trouble I fear the most, it’s not happening.”

Hongyu asked in a young voice, “Mammy Qiao, where is Madam Ouyang?”

Ouyang Ruo was still worried, so she came out by herself. Mammy Qiao hurried to support her.

“I’m here.”

She frowned when she heard Hongyu question Mammy Qiao. Perhaps she was influenced by Mu Yingxue. When she saw this arrogant servant today, she was not as timid as usual. Instead, she was a little angry.

Hongyu curtsied pretentiously, “Madam Ouyang, I’m sorry to disturb you. On Madam Xu’s order, we are here to take Miss Yingxue for questioning.”

Ouyang Ruo was already shocked to see the 20 or 30 people in front of her. Learning that they were here for Yingxue made her even more frightened, but she still pretended to be calm and said, “May I ask why Madam Xu wants to see Yingxue?”

Hongyu couldn’t hide the contempt in her eyes. She smiled at her and said, “Since Madam Ouyang wants to know the details, I won’t hide it from you. Madam Xu had received a letter. Someone had made a secret report, claiming that Miss Yingxue had privately pawned the rewards bestowed by His Majesty. As such, I’ve sent here to summon Miss Yingxue.”

Ouyang Ruo was so shocked that she took a step back. She only felt that her senses were surging. Fortunately, Mammy Qiao held her and prevented her from fainting.

She fought back the tremor in her voice and said to Hongyu, “It’s too big a crime to privately trade the imperial rewards. Does Madam Xu have any evidence?”

Hongyu glanced at her and snorted, “Madam Ouyang, it’s none of your business whether there’s any evidence or not. We’re only here to follow Madam Xu’s orders. Let’s talk about the rest when Miss Yingxue gets there.”

Ouyang Ruo held Mammy Qiao’s hand tightly and said in a deep voice, “Miss Yingxue is not in the mansion now. Why don’t we wait for her to come back? Then I will let her go to Madam Xu’s place by herself.”

Hongyu seemed to have expected that she would say that. She raised her hand and waved to people on both sides, saying, “Madam Xu ordered me to take Miss Yingxue there, so please excuse us.”

As she waved her hands, the servants behind her immediately scattered everywhere. It seemed that they were going to search this small courtyard to make sure that Ouyang Ruo didn’t lie.

Although Ouyang Ruo and the others were angry, they were outnumbered. The three of them were no match for their opponents.

Hongyu gazed calmly at Ouyang Ruo and the rest. A smug look flashed across her face several times.

After a while, the servants all came back to report. There was no trace of Mu Yingxue indeed.

Hongyu frowned and said unhappily, “Have you investigated all the places?”

The butler Wan Fu said in a low voice, “We’ve checked all the places. She’s indeed not in this place.”

“Madam Ouyang has already said that our miss isn’t here. Why do you bother making such an unnecessary move?!”

Liu’er could not bear to see them being arrogant, so she blurted out what she was thinking. She had wanted her miss to return earlier, but now, she was hoping that her master would not return. Anyway, how did Madam Xu find out that they pawned the rewards so quickly?