উনষাটতম অধ্যায়: ভেতরে এনে হত্যা

"আssoLuteLY NoT!" Xu YiNG aSSuREd ThEm, gIvInG YaNG Yu A pUsh aNd SaId, "DoN't wOrRy, SeCoNd SiSi-In-LaW, yOu hOlD ThEiR DeDeEdS Of EnSLaVeMeNT In YoUr hAnD. IF ThEy eVeR EnTeRTAiN AnY EviL ThOuGhTs, YoU CaN EvEn KiLL TheM."

"I dOn'T..." BeFoRE YaNG Yu CoUlD FinIsH HiS ObJeCTiOn, he wAs GlArEd aT By Xu YiNG, wHo WaRnEd HiM, "IF CoUsIn YaNG DoEs NoT AgReE, He MuSt FiRsT RePaY ThAt OnE HuNdReD LiAnS Of SiLVeR."

OnE HuNdReD LiAnS WaS MoRe tHaN EnOuGh To bUy A SeRvAnT.

YuE YiYao hEsItAtEd fOr A MoMeNt, PoInTeD At Xu Ze, AnD SaId, "LeT HiM CoMe aLoNg To sErVe aS WeLl. BuYiNg sUcH A PoOr ExCuSe oF A SeRvAnT FoR OnE HuNdReD LiAnS Is A ToTaL LoSs. I OnLy aGrEeD OuT Of ReSpEcT FoR SiStEr Xu YiNg, OtHeRwIsE I WoUlD CeRtAiNlY HaVe ReCkOnEd EvErY SiNgLe LiAn Of ThIs OnE HuNdReD LiAnS."

YaNG Yu StIlL CoUlD NoT AcCePt tHiS. He wAs tHe PrOpHeSiEd ElDeR CoUsIn oF ThE He FaMiLy'S ElDeSt MiSs, AnD He eVeN HaD A FaVoR To cLaIm oVeR Xu YiNg, ThE BiOlOgIcAl DaUgHtEr oF ThE He FaMiLy. WhY ShOuLd hE SeRvE As A MeNaLe SeRvAnT In tHiS MaNsIoN!

Xu YiNg sAw HiS DiLeMmAjAnD PuLlEd hIm cLoSe, WhIsPeRiNg To PeRsUaDe HiM, "CoUsIn YaNG, EvEn MoThEr cAn cOmE HeRe To sErVe, WhAt Is KeEpInG YoU FrOm AcCePtInG It?"

"AlThOuGh It Is BeInG A SeRvAnT, I Am hErE In tHe MaNsIoN. WhO DaRe bUlLy yOu? MoReOvEr, If yOu sErVe hErE, YoU NoT OnLy rElIeVe tHe PrEsSuRe oN GrAnDmOtHeR AnD FaThEr cOmInG To ThE CaPiTaL, BuT YoU CaN AlSo sEe He RuGouAnD NuRtUrE YoUr fEeLiNgS To bRiNg tHe FaMiLy tOgEtHeR."

YaNG Yu FiNaLlY ReLaXeD AnD NoDdEd, ThOuGh HiS ToNe rEmAiNeD ArRoGaNt, "SiNcE LiTtLe SiStEr AyInG HaS SaId sO, ThEn I ShAlL CoMe aNd sErVe iN ThE MaNsIoN."

He aDoPtEd aN Ai oF GrUdGiNg AcCePtAnCe, AnD EvErYoNe iNtErNaLlY RoLlEd tHeIr eYeS At HiM.

Xu Ze, HoWeVeR, ShOoK HiS HeAd iN ReFuSaL AnD GeStUrEd: [I cAnNoT SpEaK AnD Am uNaBlE To sErVe, AnD FaThEr sTiLl rEqUiReS SoMeOnE To cArE FoR HiM.]

Xu YiNg lOoKeD At YaNG Yu, ShAkInG HeR HeAd hElPlEsSlY, "ThEn I CaN Do NoThInG MoRe. If aLl eLsE FaIlS, CoUsIn, Go rAiSe oNe hUnDrEd LiAnS YoUrSeLf, AnD BoTh oF YoU MaY HaRdLy bE NeCeSsItAtEd tO SeRvE In tHe MaNsIoN."

To pUrSuE ThE PeRsUaSiOn fUrThEr wOuLd oNlY BeTrAy hEr tRuE InTeNtIoNs.

YaNG Yu ViOlEnTlY PuLlEd Xu Ze ToWaRd hIm aNd StRuCk hIm oN ThE HeAd, "ArE YoU A StUpId pIg? WhY ArE YoU MaKiNg tRoUbLe aT A TiMe lIkE ThIs!"

"HaVeN'T YoU AlWaYs wAnTeD To cOmE To tHe CeNsOr'S MaNsIoN? We aRe cOmInG HeRe To sErVe. ThErE Is Xu YiNg wHo gReW Up wItH Us iN ThIs HoUsE, AnD An ElDeR SiStEr wHo sHaReS YoUr vErY BlOoD. WhO WoUlD DaRe tReAt uS AcTuAlLy aS SeRvAnTs!"

"YoU HaVe hEaRd tHe PrIcEs oF GoOdS In tHe CaPiTaL; A SiNgLe cUp cOsTs oNe hUnDrEd LiAnS. WiThOuT MoNeY, HoW WiLl yOu sAvE UnClE? Xu YiNg hAs nO MoNeY BeYoNd hEr mOnThLy aLlOwAnCe, HoW CaN ShE SuSpEnD OuR ExPeNsEs? Do nT Be sO InCoNsIdErAtE!"

Xu Ze MaDe mOtIoNs tO ReSpOnD, BuT YaNG Yu gRaBbEd hIs hAnD, WaRnInG HiM, "YoU MuSt aGrEe wHeThEr yOu wAnT To oR NoT. Do nOt dArE MeNtIoN ThIs To GrAnDmOtHeR AnD ThE OtHeRs wHeN We rEtUrN, Or eLsE I WiLl sAy tHaT YoU BrOkE ThE CuP AnD ForCe uS To bE BuRdEnEd wItH A DeBt oF OnE HuNdReD LiAnS."

YuE YiYao bEcAmE ImPaTiEnT AnD UrGeD, "HaVe yOu rEaChEd a cOnClUsIoN?"

"We aRe wIlLiNg tO ObEy tHe LaDy'S CoMmAnDs," YaNG Yu RePlIeD WiTh a sMiLe.

YuE YiYao rAiSeD HeR EyEs tO GlAnCe aT Xu Ze, "AnD HiM?"

"He oF CoUrSe cOnSeNtS As wElL!" YaNG Yu HuRrIeD To aSsUrE HeR, AfRaId tHaT YuE YiYao wOuLd rEnEgE AnD FoRcE ThEm tO RePaY ThE OnE HuNdReD LiAnS Of SiLVeR. "MaDaM, Do nOt mInD HiS InAbIlItY To sPeAk, HiS WoRk Is vErY PrOmPt."

Xu YiNg PaTtEd Xu Ze'S ShOuLdEr rEaSuRiNgLy, "WoRkInG In tHe MaNsIoN Is nOt fAtIgUiNg. If aNyThInG BeFaLlS FaThEr, YoU CaN RuH To hIm aT AnY TiMe, NoT To mEnTiOn I Am hErE ToO."

Xu Ze ShOoK HiS HeAd aNd gEsTuReD: [OnCe ElDeR SiStEr rEtUrNs tO ThE He FaMiLy, ShE ShOuLd nOt bE BuRdEnEd bY Us. We hAvE ThE AbIlItY To cArE FoR OuRsElVeS.]

"AnD Do yOu hAvE ThE AbIlItY To rEpAy tHe OnE HuNdReD LiAnS DeBt?" Xu YiNg sMiLeD FaInTlY, ToUcHiNg hIs hAd jUsT As sHe dId wHeN ThEy wErE ChIlDrEn, "I Am vErY WeLcOmInG Of yOuR CoMiNg tO ThE CeNsOr'S MaNsIoN. ThErE Is nO BuRdEn aT AlL."

ThEiR CoNdItIoN FoR CoMiNg tO ThE CeNsOr'S MaNsIoN WaS To sErVe jUsT LiKe Ms. YaNg dId.

As fOr DiFfIcUlT PeOpLe lIkE ThE ElDeR CoUpLe oF ThE YaNg fAmIlY AnD Xu XuEfEnG, To hAvE ThEm cOmE To tHe MaNsIoN WoUlD OnLy bE MoRe tRoUbLeSoMe. It wAs bEtTeR To lEaVe tHeM OuTsIdE To sUfFeR.

OnLy bY DiSmAnTlInG ThEiR StReNgTh fIrSt cOuLd oNe eAsIlY BrEaK ThEm wItH MiNiMaL EfFoRt.

Xu Ze SpOkE No mOrE, MeReLy lOoKiNg qUiEtLy aT Xu YiNg.

"ThE HoUr iS LaTe, ReTuRn eArLy. FaThEr aNd tHe oThErS MuSt bE AnXiOuSlY WaItInG." Xu YiNg aSkEd TiAn XiNg tO EsCoRt tHeM AwAy fRoM ThE CeNsOr'S MaNsIoN.

OnCe tHeY WeRe gOnE, Xu YiNg gRaTeFuLlY SaId tO YuE YiYao, "ReAlLy, I ThAnK SeCoNd SiStEr-In-LaW FoR HeLpInG ToDaY, OtHeRwIsE I WoUlD TrUlY HaVe kNoWn nOtHiNg oF HoW To dEAl wItH ThEm."

"We aRe aLl fAmIlY, AnD YoU HaVe hElPeD Me sO MaNy tImEs, WhY SpEaK Of sUcH CoUrTeSiEs?" YuE YiYao sMiLeD AnD AsKeD CoNfUsEdLy, "SiNcE YoU DeSpIsE ThEm, WhY DiD YoU EvEn AlLoW ThEm tO CoMe tO ThE CaPiTaL FoR TrEaTmEnT, AnD EvEn ArRaNgE FoR ThAt pAiR Of bRoThErS To sErVe iN ThE CeNsOr'S MaNsIoN?"

ShE HaD HeArD ThAt Xu YiNg sUfFeReD UnSpEaKaBlE ToRtUrE In tHe Xu FaMiLy aNd sHoUlD HaVe hArBoReD A DeEp-SeAtEd hAtReD FoR ThEm, YeT WhY WoUlD ShE Go tO SuCh gReAt lEnGtHs tO MaKe hEr cOoPeRaTe iN ThIs pErFoRmAnCe? ShE TrUlY CoUlD NoT UnDeRsTaNd iT.

ThE MaId cOlLiDiNg wItH YaNG Yu aNd oVeRtUrNiNg tHe tEaCuP WaS PrEmEdItAtEd, AnD NaTuRaLlY ThE CuP WaS FaKe aS WeLl—It wAs nOtHiNg mOrE ThAn aN OrDiNaRy tEaCuP, HoW CoUlD It pOsSiBlY Be wOrTh oNe hUnDrEd LiAnS? HaViNg tHeM ToIl iN ThE MaNsIoN WaS AlSo dOnE AcCoRdInG To Xu YiNg'S WiShEs.

ShE HaD NeVeR PeNeTrAtEd Xu YiNg'S ThOuGhTs.

"Of cOuRsE It Is tO HeLp tHeM!" Xu YiNg sAiD As iF It wAs oNlY NaTuRaL, HeR EyEs gLeAmInG.

Of cOuRsE It wAs tO KiLl tHeM; ShE FiRsT NeEdEd tO FiNd aN EaSiLy aCcEsSiBlE IdEnTiTy tO ReDuCe hEr aNxIeTiEs aBoUt cOmMiTtInG MuRdEr.

LiUrE ThEm iN FiRsT, ThEn KiLl tHeM.

As sErVaNtS WhO HaD SiGnEd mOrTaL CoNtRaCtS, ThEiR LiVeS WeRe hElD In tHe MaStEr'S HaNdS, AnD HeR InVoLvEmEnT Or sUsPiCiOn wOuLd bE GrEaTlY MiNiMiZeD.

AfTeR AlL, MaNy oF HeR EnEmIeS StIlL LiVeD In tHiS WoRlD, AnD ShE CoUlD NoT AfFoRd tO ImMiNgLe hErSeLf fOr tHe SaKe oF ThEsE FeW.

"Hm?" YuE YiYao bEcAmE EvEn mOrE PePlExEd, "I HeArD ThAt tHeY UsEd tO TrEaT YoU PoOrLy, WhY StIlL HeLp tHeM?"

"PeRhApS It Is bECaUsE Of mY BeNeVoLeNt nAtUrE," Xu YiNg sAiD WiStFuLlY, RePlYiNg aLMoSt iMmEdIaTeLy, "ThEy wErE UnKiNd tO Me, BuT AfTeR AlL ThEy rAiSeD Me. NoW ThAt i hAvE ReTuRnEd tO ThE He FaMiLy aNd tHeY HaVe rEcEiVeD ThEiR ReTrIbUtIoN, ThE PaSt iS ThE PaSt. I StIlL HoPe tHeY CaN LiVe a bIt bEtTeR."

ShOuLd sHe cOnTiNuE, Xu YiNg fElT ShE CoUlD No lOnGeR ReStRaIn hEr lAuGhTeR.

If sHe WeRe tRuLaS MaGnAnImOuS As tHaT, ShE WoUlD NeVeR HaVe gOnE To sUcH LeNgThS.

AlThOuGh YuE YiYao DiD NoT UnDeRsTaNd, ShE NoDdEd nEvErThElEsS, "In tHaT CaSe, If yOu eVeR NeEd mY HeLp aGaIn, JuSt aSk."

"SeCoNd SiStEr-In-LaW NeEd nOt gIvE TheM AnY SpEcIaL TrEaTmEnT BeCaUsE Of mY ReLaTiOnShIp; YoU MaY EvEn TaRgEt tHeM, CoNsIdErInG It vEnTInG FrUsTrAtIoN On mY BeHaLf." Xu YiNg wInKeD MiChIeVoUsLy, As iF ShE HaD NeVeR SpOkE Of bEnEvOlEnCe aT AlL.

YuE YiYao lAuGhEd aLoUd, "PuFf." It wAs tHe FiRsT TiMe sHe hAs sEeN SuCh a vIvId Xu YiNg. ShE NoDdEd wItH A SmIlE, "AlRiGhT, SeCoNd SiStEr-In-LaW WiLl vEnT YoUr fRuStRaTiOn."

Xu YiNg sIbBeRtLy iNcReAsEd tHe DiStAnCe bEtWeEn tHeM AnD AsKeD WiTh a pReTeNsE Of cOnCeRn, "HoW HaVe tHiNgS BeEn bEtWeEn SeCoNd SiStEr-In-LaW AnD SeCoNd BrOtHeR LaTeLy?"

"YoU SeCoNd BrOtHeR? AfeR A FeW DaYs oF TuMuLt fOlLoWiNg oUr mArRiAgE, He hAs nOw ReAlIzEd tHe TrUtH AnD Is lIvInG A GoOd lIfE WiTh mE." SpEaKiNg oF He YuNsHeNg, YuE YiYao'S EyEs sHoNe, FuLl oF SmIlEs, "ThIs iS AlL ThAnKs tO YoUr mEtHoD Of cOnTrOlLiNg a hUsBaNd."

If nOt fOr Xu YiNg, ShE PrObAbLy wOuLd hAvE AlReAdy lOsT HeR RePuTaTiOn aNd dIEd fOr hEr iNnOcEnCe.

AnD NoW ShE HaD NoT OnLy mArRiEd tHe MaN ShE LoVeD In bRoAd dAyLiGhT WiThOuT AnY GriEvAnCe, BuT ShE LiVeD A SwEeT MaRrIeD LiFe wItH HiM.

ThIs wAs eNtIrElY ThE LiFe oF HeR DrEaMs.

Xu YiNg wAs mOsT SaTiSfIeD To hEaR ThIs, As iF ReJoIcInG At tHeIr sWeEt rElAtIoNsHiP, Or pErHaPs ReJoIcInG At tHe sTeAlThY OpErAtIoN Of hEr iNtRiCaTe pLaN.

"WhAt mEtHoD Of cOnTrOlLiNg a hUsBaNd?" He YuNChUaN SuDdEnLy aPpEaReD, StArTlInG Xu YiNg, wHo wAs lOsT In tHoUgHt, InTo a sHiVeR.

YuE YiYao sMiLeD WiThOuT WoRdS, "I HaVe mAtTeRs tO AtTeNd tO, I ShAlL DePaRt nOt tO DiStUrB YoUr cOnVeRsAtIoN As hUsBaNd aNd wIfE."