Volume One, Chapter 16: They Plot Against Her, So She Will Turn Their Scheme Against Them

“Your Highness, the message has been delivered.”

In the incense-scented palace hall, Yang Qingrong reclined gracefully against the bolster on her couch, her beautiful eyes closed. Only after hearing the old palace matron’s report did she slowly lift her lids and raise a hand, signaling the maid massaging her temples to withdraw.

“How did Hua Changle react?”

“Your Highness, when the second young lady of the Hua family heard that you wished to see her, she looked delighted. I imagine she is hoping Your Highness will stand up for her.”

“Stand up for her?” Yang Qingrong gave a scornful laugh. “She certainly has no qualms about flattering herself.”

“If she had not begged that person to intervene back then, I would have long since made Ye’er break off his engagement with her. Yet she still has the nerve to expect me to stand up for her.”

“A woman who escaped from a bandit’s den actually dreams of clinging to Ye’er for the rest of her life. What delusions!”

“And now she has grown bold enough to propose breaking off the engagement herself, humiliating Ye’er and slapping me in the face. I shall see whether, after tomorrow, she can continue living as shamelessly as she does now.”

“Your Highness is wise indeed,” the old matron said ingratiatingly. “His Highness the Third Prince is a man of extraordinary talent and brilliance. How could she ever be worthy of him?”

Yang Qingrong waved a weary hand.

Hua Changle had no regard for propriety, and her conduct was reckless and arrogant. Yang Qingrong had never liked her. Unfortunately, Changle had once saved Wei Chengxuan’s life, and Wei Chengxuan had forbidden them from breaking off the engagement. No matter how much she hated it, Yang Qingrong could only grit her teeth and accept it.

Now that Hua Changle had taken the initiative to propose breaking off the engagement, and with what would happen tomorrow, Yang Qingrong could lead Ye’er to break off the engagement openly and righteously, even if Wei Chengxuan intervened again.

Not only would she finally vent the resentment she had harbored since their earlier attempt to dissolve the engagement had failed, she would also damage Wei Chengxuan’s dignity and utterly ruin Hua Changle, ensuring that the girl could never trouble Ye’er again. Just thinking about it filled her with satisfaction.

But Hua Changle was not the only shameless wretch.

Yang Qingrong’s expression turned cold. “After dealing with Hua Changle tomorrow, arrange for someone to dispose of that slut Lin Xinyan as well.”

A lowborn servant girl who had climbed into her son’s bed and bewitched him with her seductive tricks was courting death!

After seeing off the old matron who had come from Consort Rong, Rindong nervously twisted her fingers.

Judging from the young lady’s reaction just now, could it be that her anger had passed and she no longer intended to break off her engagement with the Third Prince?

It made sense. Their young lady had loved the Third Prince for so many years. Perhaps she had merely spoken in anger. How could she truly bear to end the engagement simply because she had said so?

Rindong felt somewhat disappointed. She genuinely hoped that her young lady would come to her senses and break off the engagement with the Third Prince.

“Miss, the Third Prince has always obeyed Consort Rong. With Consort Rong standing up for you, His Highness will certainly marry you properly.”

Changle entered the room and closed the account book spread open on the table. At Rindong’s words, she rolled her eyes, rolled up the book, and lightly tapped it against Rindong’s forehead.

“What are you thinking?”

“If anyone is most eager for the engagement between Wei Shuoye and me to be canceled, I would rank first, and Consort Rong would rank second.”

“She has always looked down on me. Once she learns that I intend to break off the engagement myself, even if she feels humiliated, she will be far more pleased than angry.”

“Relying on her to stand up for me would be no different from waiting for red rain to fall from the sky.”

Rindong covered her forehead, her face filled with confusion. “Then why, when you saw the messenger just now, did you look as though you were about to weep for joy—as if you had finally found someone willing to stand up for you?”

“Consort Rong sent someone to tell me that she wanted to meet with me. Do you know what that is called?”

Rindong honestly shook her head.

Changle placed the account book into its box. “A weasel paying respects to a hen. It certainly does not come with good intentions.”

“What?”

Rindong’s eyes widened in shock. Changle continued, “What sort of place is Drunken Wind Pavilion? It is a disorderly haunt crowded with drunkards. If a young woman like me walks into a place full of drunken men, what do you think might happen?”

Rindong thought for a moment before understanding. Her face went white with fright. “Miss, you absolutely cannot go to Drunken Wind Pavilion tomorrow!”

“Go? Why wouldn’t I?” Changle sneered. “She has already built the stage. If I refuse to attend, wouldn’t that be terribly discourteous of me?”

“Not only am I going, I am taking plenty of people with me.”

“Rindong, I have finished looking over the accounts. Return these to them and tell them that next month I want the ledger to show an additional one hundred thousand taels in profit. If it does not, they may come and see me with their heads in their hands.”

“Miss, what are you going there to do?”

“The stage has been set, so naturally I am going to find the actors and the audience.”

Changle left the residence, letting Rindong keep the carriage. She hailed another carriage in the street herself.

“To Clear Rain Tower.”

Clear Rain Tower was an inn and restaurant combined, an establishment belonging to Wei Shuoye. Lin Xinyan had been placed there as its manager.

One had to admit that Wei Shuoye had truly gone to great lengths to make arrangements for Lin Xinyan.

Lin Xinyan had originally been nothing more than a palace maid serving at his side. Knowing that her birth was humble, Wei Shuoye had released her from his household to elevate her standing, thereby freeing her from servitude.

Afterward, he arranged for her to manage Clear Rain Tower. Once enough time had passed, he could entrust her with a portion of his other businesses as well, allowing her to become a manager of considerable rank.

He could even give her two shops and make her their proprietor.

By raising Lin Xinyan’s status step by step, she might still lack the qualifications to become the Third Prince’s principal consort, but at the very least she could enter his household as a favored concubine. Perhaps she might even become a secondary consort.

Wei Shuoye had truly taken great pains for her.

The carriage stopped before Clear Rain Tower. Changle paid the fare and stepped down.

The establishment was doing brisk business, and the trained attendants moved about, greeting the arriving guests with practiced efficiency.

When Changle entered, one of the waiters hurried forward to welcome her. But upon recognizing her, a flicker of gloom crossed his face.

Wei Shuoye often came to Clear Rain Tower. Changle had previously followed him there and caused two considerable scenes, so the waiters and manager all knew her.

Moreover, they were familiar with Lin Xinyan. Naturally, they all believed that Changle bullied her and took Lin Xinyan’s side, finding Changle increasingly overbearing and disagreeable.

“Second Miss Hua, what trouble are you here to cause this time?” the waiter asked, his face darkening with impatience.

“What an interesting question.”

Changle curved her lips into a smile. “I came here today on legitimate business and had not intended to cause trouble. But since you have made such a sincere request, I shall be happy to oblige.”

She seized a hot dish that another waiter had just been carrying toward a guest’s table and slammed it into the first waiter’s face.

At the same time, she reached back, grabbed the edge of a nearby table, and overturned it onto the floor.

The waiter howled as the scalding food burned him. At the commotion, the diners in the hall rose warily from their seats, afraid that their own tables might be the next to be overturned.

Changle smiled sweetly. “Everyone, please remain calm.”

“I have a personal grudge against the owner of Clear Wind Tower. I am merely smashing a few things to ease my temper.”