Counterattack of the Concubine’s Invincible Daughter

8. Beat Her at her Own Game

Translator: Snowball

Mu Yingxue grabbed Xu Min by the wrist without even looking at her. “What have I done wrong? Mother, you said I could get the beaded flower by any means, didn’t you? Anyway, it’s just a dog.”

“You… How dare you insult little Jingle by calling it a dog?

Mu Yingxue couldn’t help laughing. “Can you tell me what the word ‘insult’ refers to? Isn’t it a dog?”

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone heard someone laughing in the crowd. They turned around following the voice and saw Concubine Qin and Concubine Hua were covering their mouths with their hands.

Chocked by her words, Xu Min blushed with anger.

At this point, Concubine Fang suddenly stood out of the crowd, trying to help Xu Min out. “Though it’s indeed a dog, it was bestowed by Princess Xian. You injured it, which means that you don’t take Princess Xian seriously! If Her Highness knows about it, you’ll be doomed!”

Mu Yingxue chuckled. “What? Auntie Fang, so you’re comparing Princess Xian’s status with that of a dog?”

“Mu Yingxue, you… you’re slinging mud at me!”

“Everyone here can prove that I’m not!”

Being struck dumb by Mu Yingxue’s retort, Concubine Fang shivered with anger, but she couldn’t come up with any words to shoot back. If people of the imperial palace knew what she said, the consequences could be serious. When she saw Xu Min was looking at her with a sullen look, Concubine Fang was immediately seized with panic.

“Sister Fang, enough!”

Xu Min clenched her teeth and said with a creepy smile on her lips, “Ha! Mu Yingxue, it seems you not only regained your intelligence, but also became eloquent. I don’t believe you’re not afraid of being punished by Princess Xian.”

Hearing that, Mu Yingxue instantly revealed a look of horror. “I’m so scared!”

Xu Min raised her head, straightened her back triumphantly and was about to continue to denounce Mu Yingxue.

“Princess Xian is the most favored one among the eight imperial concubines. Because of her virtue, His Majesty bestowed her the title ‘Xian’ (Lit. Virtuous). She not only takes great care of His Majesty, shares His Majesty’s concerns, but also treats ordinary people in our country as if they were her own children, so she’s a good example for other imperial concubines to follow. If she punishes me only because I injured the dog she gave you, she doesn’t deserve her title. If the rumors spread out, I’m afraid it’ll be extremely difficult for Princess Xian to have a foothold in the imperial palace. Besides, what will others think about Prince Rui?”

Mu Yingxue’s words hit the nail on the head, which made Xu Min’s face turn pale in an instant.

Although the emperor, Xuanyuan Lie, had declared Xuanyuan Jin as the crown prince, Xuanyuan Rui was powerful enough to compete with his brother. Prince Rui wasn’t the emperor’s first son, and his birth mother was only an imperial concubine, but with the Grand Preceptor, many of whose students were serving in the court, and Marquis Mu, who had millions of troops at his command, as his backing, he was one of the most powerful heirs to the throne.

The atmosphere grew tense. Xu Min’s lips twitched, but she couldn’t utter a word.

The eerie silence wasn’t broken until the tailors from the Feathery Garment Workshop came in to take measures for the masters of each courtyard.

Xu Min was simmering with rage now, so nobody dared speak to her for the moment and everything was going on quietly. Two hours later, the tailors had left, but no one from the Fragrance Courtyard had come yet, which enraged Xu Min instantly. She pounded the table angrily and yelled, “What’s wrong with the people of the Fragrance Courtyard? Why haven’t they arrived yet?”

As Concubine Song couldn’t find Mu Xiangqin in the Fragrance Courtyard, she was like a cat on hot bricks. If she hadn’t come back for Mu Xianqin, she wouldn’t have known that Xiangqin wasn’t in her room. Concubine Song immediately asked the servants to search every corner of the mansion, but there was still no sign of her daughter.

While having six cups of tea as well as a lot of fruit and melon seeds, Hong Yu’s patience was wearing thin.

“Madam Song, we have to report this to Madam Xu. Miss Xiangqin hasn’t come back for so long. I’m afraid that something had happened to her. We should tell Madam Xu about this as soon as possible so that she can find a way to get Miss Xiangqin back.”

Seeing that Hongyu was about to leave, Concubine Song was so anxious that she was about to cry. She immediately took out a pile of bank notes from her pocket and stuffed them into Hongyu’s pocket. “Hongyu, please wait for a little longer. I’m sure Xiangqin will come back soon.”

Hongyu was a smart girl, or she wouldn’t have become Xu Min’s henchman. She immediately figured out that Concubine Song was trying to hide something from her. She then took off her jade bracelet and gold headwear before handing them to Concubine Song with the bank notes Concubine Song had just stuffed into her pocket.

“Hongyu… You…”

“Madam Song, you’d better go with me right now. I’m afraid Madam Xu’s patience has worn out.”

From Hongyu’s determined tone, Concubine Song knew she couldn’t hide the news from Xu Min anymore. After wresting with herself for a while, she walked out of the room with Hongyu, heading for the front yard. Before leaving, she blinked at her maid, hinting her to find the doorman. The smart maid immediately turned around and ran to the outer courtyard.

As Concubine Song expected, when Hongyu whispered in Xu Min’s ear, telling her that Mu Xiangqin wasn’t in the mansion, Xu Min’s face turned grim.

“Sister Song, where the hell did Xiangqin go?”

Though Concubine Song was burning with anxiety, she managed to make herself look calm. “She’s hanging out. I… I’ve sent someone to get her back.”

“Hanging out? When did she leave?”

Concubine Song’s heart sank and immediately lost her usual swagger. To everyone’s surprise, in such a cold winter, they saw sweat pop out on her forehead.

In any case, she wouldn’t tell anyone that Mu Xiangqin didn’t come home last night. Otherwise, her daughter’s reputation would be ruined. Concubine Song then answered, gritting her teeth, “Xiangqin went out this morning.”

“Get the doorman here!”

Concubine Song’s heart skipped a beat, but she immediately regained her composure. She was confident that her maid must have told the doorman how to answer.

After a while, the doorman came in and kowtowed to Xu Min respectfully.

“You may rise!”

“Thank you, Madam!”

“Did you see Miss Xiangqin leave our mansion? If you did, when?”

“Madam, Miss Xiangqin left at about eight in the morning.”

Hearing the doorman’s words, Concubine Song felt much relieved. However, before she could heave a sigh of relief, a maid rushed in and whispered in Hongyu’s ear for a while. Hongyu then turned to Concubine Song with astonishment.

Hearing what Hongyu had said, Xu Min pounded the table all of sudden, which made the doorman’s face immediately turn pale out of fear.

“You have one last chance. When did Miss Xiangqin go out?”

The doorman was so scared that he immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy. “Ma… Madam, Miss Xiangqin left our mansion at about eight in the morning yesterday.”

Hearing that, Concubine Song felt like a bomb exploded in her head and she collapsed on the ground in an instant.

“At eight yesterday morning? Did she return last night?”

“Madam, I didn’t see Miss Xiangqin come back.”

Xu Min picked up the teacup by her hand and suddenly slammed it onto the floor. ”Song Wanrou, don’t try to fool me around. What’s wrong with Mu Xiangqin? As the marquis’ daughter, how dare she go out without my permission? She even stayed outside all night! If the outsiders know about this, it would ruin not only her reputation, but the whole family’s! She’ll definitely be crucified when she gets back!”

It was no wonder that Xu Min would be so angry. If the rumors about the marquis’ daughter staying outside the whole night spread out, it would not only disgrace her, the hostess of the mansion, but would be a bad influence on the whole family.

Concubine Song lowered her head, feeling extremely anxious. As her only child, Mu Xiangqin was the apple of her eye. She couldn’t imagine how hard it would be for her if her daughter was discredited, so she decided to tell Madam Xu the truth, hoping her daughter would be brought back as soon as possible.

Soon all the servants of the Fragrance Courtyard were mustered. However, except Lan’er, Mu Xiangqin’s personal maid, said that Mu Xiangqin went out of the mansion yesterday, Xu Min couldn’t get any more clues.

Lying on the floor, Lan’er was severely injured and couldn’t move at all.

Xu Min looked down at Lan’er while raising her voice. “Stop lying! Tell me where’s Miss Xiangqin!”

“Madam, I don’t know. Miss Xiangqin didn’t tell me about it before leaving.” Lan’er bit her lip tightly, tears streaming down her ashen face.

“You’re seeking your own doom!” “Servants, beat her with all your strength!”

Lan’er was a loyal maid, but it was a pity that she didn’t have a virtuous master. No matter how hard they beat her, she kept her mouth shut.

Lan’er didn’t tell the truth until Xu Min threatened her with her family. “Miss Xiangqin… Miss Xiangqin went out for Childe Son.”

“Childe Song? Which Childe Song? Don’t you dare hide anything from me!”

“Miss Xiangqin’s cousin, Childe Song Qingyun.”