Chapter 30: One Puppet Talisman Each

"How is it going?"

As night fell, Madame Sun reclined on a soft couch, casting a sideways glance at a shadow hidden in the darkness.

"The eldest young lady has finished dinner and retired for the night. The two matrons followed her into the main chamber; the eldest young lady said it was cold outside and invited them in to warm themselves."

Madame Sun’s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking she had misheard. Then, she threw her head back and laughed heartily.

"A fool is a fool! It seems I was overthinking it. Even if she has grown bolder, what of it? She is still a brainless simpleton. Very well, you don't need to keep watching her anymore. That little wench is only intimidating in appearance; she is all show and no substance, incapable of stirring up any real trouble."

***

In Huichun Courtyard, a charcoal stove had been lit in the main chamber. The fire blazed brightly, making the room warm and comfortable.

The two old matrons wore smug expressions. To think that this good-for-nothing girl had actually invited them inside to warm themselves—she was truly, utterly stupid.

Originally, the mistress had ordered them to keep a close watch on Chu Meng. Privately, they were unhappy, fearing it was a thankless task that would result in severe punishment if they bungled it.

But now, they had nothing to worry about. This girl was dim-witted; her sharp tongue was her only weapon, and she was clearly a fool, unaware that she was about to be schemed against, still having the leisure to worry about the warmth of servants like them.

Suddenly, a chilling voice rang out from behind them.

The two women felt a gust of icy wind crawl down their necks and settle into their spines, causing their bodies to tremble uncontrollably.

Chu Li stood behind them, her face cold, holding a yellow talisman in each hand.

"Do you think I am foolish? Easy to manipulate?"

The matrons were terrified. Before they could react, Chu Li swiftly slapped the yellow talismans onto their backs.

In an instant, their gazes went vacant, as if their souls had been ripped away, and both women let their heads sink low.

Qiuyi, who had just finished arranging the bedding, walked out from the inner room and saw the two matrons standing with their heads bowed before her mistress, looking as if they were being reprimanded for a mistake.

"Hmph! Now you know how good my mistress is, right? That mistress of yours is nothing special."

Qiuyi muttered, and in response, Chu Li let out a soft laugh.

Chu Li walked to the table, poured herself a cup of hot tea, and said with a smile, "Qiuyi, they are very obedient now. Whatever you tell them to do, they will do."

Qiuyi’s eyes widened. "Really?"

Chu Li nodded silently. Qiuyi was instantly excited.

"Whatever the mistress says is right. Then, this servant will be bold and overstep my bounds to properly discipline them for you."

Qiuyi took pleasure in throwing Madame Sun’s words from earlier that day back at her, then barked at the two matrons: "The two of you, slap each other!"

Madame Sun had wanted to teach her a lesson during the day, slapping her face in the open, which was an insult to her mistress in secret. Tonight, she would make sure to vent some of that frustration for both herself and her mistress!

As soon as Qiuyi finished her fierce command, the two matrons suddenly lifted their heads and slapped each other’s cheeks hard.

*Slap! Slap!* The sound of palms hitting skin echoed one after another. The two old hags were not only hitting hard but fast. In no time, their faces were swollen and red, unrecognizable.

Qiuyi watched in a daze, her mouth hanging open in shock.

"Mistress, they really are obedient. I told them to slap each other, and not only did they do it, they did it viciously!"

As she spoke, Qiuyi realized something was wrong.

When these two old hags first entered, they had been filled with the arrogance of small-minded people, even worse than the haughty servants at the Prince of You's estate. How had they changed so much in the time it took her to make a bed?

No, it must be that the mistress had done something to make them so obedient. Now that she looked closely, the eyes of the two old women were vacant, and their faces were nearly beaten to a pulp, yet they maintained dull, blank expressions. If they were normal, they would have been screaming in pain long ago.

Qiuyi’s eyes lit up as she looked at Chu Li.

"Mistress, you used talismans on them, didn't you?"

Chu Li replied, "Not so slow, are you? That’s right. I rewarded each of them with a Puppet Talisman. Now they are nothing more than two puppets. As long as I control them with my magic, they must obey me."

Qiuyi cheered for her mistress’s power, her admiration rising to a new height.

Chu Li then ordered the two hags to stop their mutual assault and commanded them to kneel before her.

"Tell me, what are Madame Chu and the others plotting?"

Upon hearing the question, the vacant eyes of the two matrons flickered with a moment of struggle, but they quickly returned to their hollow state.

"The deadline for fulfilling the Chu family's marriage contract is approaching. Originally, the master and mistress intended for the eldest young lady to be married off. But it is rumored that the gentleman on the other side is a sadist. The eldest young lady refused to marry him at any cost, so the master and mistress planned to have you, mistress, take her place."

A substitute bride?

Chu Li tapped her fingers on the table, her memories churning.

She knew of the Chu family’s marriage contract. It was said that the other family had immense power, with many members holding official posts that reached the imperial court. In the Rong City branch, they were of primary descent, and relying on their influential relatives, they could do as they pleased in the city.

The marriage contract only specified the "eldest daughter of the Chu family" without naming a specific person.

Ever since Chu Jiaojiao was born, Chu Meng had been stripped of her position as the eldest daughter. The entire household recognized only Chu Jiaojiao, trampling Chu Meng into the mud.

The "eldest young lady" the matron spoke of was indeed Chu Jiaojiao.

Chu Li frowned and asked, "And if I hadn't returned by chance, what were they planning to do?"

It was a stroke of fate that she had arrived just as the contract was nearing its expiration. The Chu family had to send someone, and she had walked right into their trap.

"If you had not returned, master intended to marry off the eldest young lady. But the mistress seemed to be looking for other ways; she had already scouted several beautiful young women from respectable families, intending to adopt them as goddaughters so they could serve as substitutes for the eldest young lady."

Chu Li sneered. That sounded exactly like Madame Sun’s style.

She couldn't bear for her own daughter to suffer, but she didn't care how other people’s children were mistreated.

"That poisonous woman is wicked to the bone. Her daughter is human, but other people's daughters are not?"

Qiuyi was filled with righteous indignation, then grew worried for Chu Li.

"Mistress, what should we do? Your return has given that poisonous woman the perfect substitute. No wonder they were all so polite to you, and why that woman even gave you ginseng to nourish your health. It turns out they had no good intentions—they were planning to push you into a pit of fire!"

Chu Li, however, was not as angry. This family had no humanity to begin with; as long as there was profit to be made, they would reap the benefits, and others would have to bear the costs.

During the day, Chu Jiaojiao had been all "Big Sister" this and "Big Sister" that, acting so sweet and willingly settling for the position of the second daughter. It turned out she had been plotting to use her as a substitute all along.

They all knew the suitor was not a good match and wanted Chu Meng to suffer for it. What a calculated scheme!