Chapter 507: Oriole (3)
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling was a little flustered. Although Qi Haoran had not returned for nearly a month, the entire south road of Jinghu was at war. He also had to avoid the pursuit of bandits and investigate the West Xia soldiers who had infiltrated the Great Zhou. In order not to expose his whereabouts, it was not uncommon for him to not contact them.
Qi Haoran was not good at other things, but he was good at war. She had never doubted his ability in this aspect, so she had never worried about him.
As Lin’an was the capital, it should be said that there was no safer place than here. However, looking at this small dot on the map and thinking of the memorial submitted by Qi Haoran, could it be that the West Xia soldiers were really just infiltrating the Great Zhou to collect information or stir up the soldiers and bandits to let them fight and exhaust the country’s strength?
Mu Yangling knew that her imagination was running wild, but she couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. She felt that Lin’an had become unsafe.
However, she knew that no one would believe her intuition. If only Qi Haoran was here. Even if he felt that it was ridiculous, he would definitely believe her.
Mu Yangling took a deep breath and put away the map. She spread out her brush and ink in frustration. If a war were to break out in Lin’an, how was she going to protect her family, especially the two children…
After writing for the entire morning, Mu Yangling finished writing down the messy notes and things to prepare on the paper, then destroyed the manuscript.
The nannies also carried the two children over. One of the nannies carried Third Young Master to Mu Yangling. “Fourth Madam, Third Young Master is a little hungry.”
Mu Yangling carried her son into the inner room to feed him milk. Looking at her anxious son, Mu Yangling gently tickled his face and chuckled. “Good child, you’ll definitely be safe and sound. Mother will protect you.”
Little Treasure was also drinking milk. The two children were a little sleepy after eating and drinking their fill. So, Mu Yangling placed the brothers on the small bed and let the servant girls watch over them lest they accidentally crush the other kid when they flipped over. She also instructed Spring to get someone to find Zhu Liang.
Mu Yangling leaned against the couch and took a nap. When Zhu Liang arrived, it was already past noon. Mu Yangling said, “I have some things that I need you to prepare. Put aside the unimportant things on hand first. Also, the two young masters need a few more people by their side. Find a few trustworthy maidservants and servant girls with some martial arts foundation and place them by the two kids’ side. The security of the farmstead needs to be checked every three days…”
Zhu Liang was shocked. What had happened to cause such a huge commotion?
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Mu Yangling did not explain the reason. Firstly, she was the master and only needed to give the order. Secondly, she was afraid that it would arouse more suspicion if she said it, so she simply explained nothing.
Moreover, her sense of danger came mostly from her intuition. This could not be used as evidence.
That small dot was only a small canyon. Through there, one could directly enter the Great Zhou from West Xia. Furthermore, the area within a hundred miles radius was sparsely populated, making it very easy for someone to hide. However, that was only a canyon. Most importantly, the terrain on both sides was a little dangerous. That place had always existed, but there had never been a case of infiltration from there. However, when Mu Yangling saw that small dot, her heart skipped a beat. It was as if all the strength in her body had been sucked out in an instant. Her body felt a little floaty, and her mouth was dry. It took her a while to recover.
Mu Yangling had never had such an experience, but her subconscious told her that it was dangerous, very dangerous!
Fortuitously, Mu Yangling thought of Qi Haoran’s memorial. She knew that this kind of thing was very mysterious. If she hadn’t experienced it personally, she probably wouldn’t have believed it herself, either.
Mu Yangling had always trusted her intuition, so she made these arrangements. Initially, she was a little worried that Zhu Liang would doubt her if she made so many adjustions without giving any explanation. Who knew that he would only be surprised for a moment before agreeing respectfully? He even nervously asked if she had any other instructions for him.
Mu Yangling thought for a moment and said, “There’s nothing else for the time being. Go and make these arrangements first. Don’t tell Eldest Madam about this yet. I’ll tell her later.” Mu Yangling pondered for a moment and said, “Assign two maidservants who know martial arts to Eldest Madam for convenience’s sake.”
Zhu Liang agreed.
Zhu Liang only thought that Mu Yangling had received some confidential information. As for not telling Eldest Madam, he agreed without any pressure.
Before coming here, the general had instructed him to mainly listen to Fourth Master and Fourth Madam’s orders. He knew that the general trusted Fourth Madam very much, even more so than he trusted Eldest Madam. After coming here, he mainly obeyed Fourth Madam’s orders, so he did not think that there was anything wrong.
In the open, Li Jinghua was Qi Xiuyuan’s representative in the capital. However, she actually knew that Fan Zijin and Zhu Liang were in charge of many of Qi Xiuyuan’s confidential matters. From the way Fan Zijin often looked for Mu Yangling to discuss things, Mu Yangling was obviously involved. Because the scene of Mu Yangling rescuing Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran back then had left a deep impression on Li Jinghua, she was very calm about this matter and did not take it to heart.
Seeing that she had often invited Zhu Liang into the residence for the past two days, she only assumed it was regarding something confidential, so she did not ask further. However, in less than two days, Zhu Liang sent her two maidservants. Even Little Treasure now had additionally two older servants and two 20-year-old servant girls.
The four older servants were in their thirties. They all wore a matronly hairstyle and were dressed in dusty clothes. Standing in the corner, they could almost be ignored. However, the two girls were a little older, especially beside Little Treasure. Moreover, they clearly didn’t even know how to serve others. Li Jinghua couldn’t help but frown.
She turned to Wen Cui and said, “Make arrangements for the four nannies and the two young ladies first. I’ll talk to Fourth Madam.”
Wen Cui agreed and invited the six of them down.
When she arrived at Mu Yangling’s place, Li Jinghua realized that there were now two maidservants and two very senior servant girls.
After sending them away, Li Jinghua asked, “What happened? Why are you assigning us so many maidservants?”
Looking a little tired, Mu Yangling said, “This is just a precaution. These people all know some martial arts, and Steward Zhu spent a lot of effort to find them. Sister-in-law, just use them first. With them by the children’s side, I’ll feel more at ease.”
Li Jinghua lowered her eyes. Previously she was surrounded by her own people. If she suddenly two unknown people entered her residence…
Mu Yangling did not know about Li Jinghua’s concerns and only sighed. “There’s still no news of Fourth Master. I wonder how he’s doing.”
Upon hearing this, Li Jinghua said with a smile, “The two of you are too clingy. Previously, during the war, he would write to you every other day. This time, you’re already so anxious after not hearing from him for less than 20 days. Your big brother might not even write me a letter in two months.”
After saying that, Li Jinghua wished she could bite her tongue. These words were too ambiguous, making it sound as if she was complaining that her husband was not close to her enough.
But Mu Yangling, who had always been sensitive, did not notice it. She even stared at the teacup in her hand in a daze. Li Jinghua was slightly stunned. Somehow, this made her let go of the fact that Mu Yangling had arranged for those people to be by her and the child’s side. Perhaps something had really happened. Otherwise, why would Ah Ling be so despondent?
Li Jinghua opened her mouth and wanted to ask what had happened, but she had always been smart. She opened her mouth and closed it in the end. When she bade farewell, she only said that she would make arrangements for the people Mu Yangling sent over.
Mu Yangling nodded and said, “Sister-in-law, you must bring those two maidservants with you when you go out. Don’t let them leave Little Treasure’s side either.”
Li Jinghua agreed, but Wen Cui was a little indignant. When no one was around, she complained to Li Jinghua in a low voice, “Fourth Madam has interfered too much. It’s already a taboo to plant other people in others’ residences. How can she plant people around you and Young Master so openly?”
Even the biological mother of one’s husband had to ask if the person involved agreed before arranging for someone to enter said person’s residence. Mu Yangling was only Li Jinghua’s sister-in-law, and furthermore, the wife of her husband’s younger brother. Her status was lower than hers.
“Shut up.” Li Jinghua scolded her in a low voice and said, “How could she think so much? Don’t let me hear such words again.”
Wen Cui lowered her head a little aggrievedly. “Madam, although Fourth Madam is a little simple-minded about the internal affairs, this is indeed a taboo. To have two strangers following you around at all times…”
“Do you think those two maidservants are Fourth Madam’s people?” Li Jinghua asked calmly. Wen Cui paused and widened her eyes. With a sigh, Li Jinghua said, “Don’t worry, she doesn’t have such thoughts now. The benefits of keeping those people by our side outweigh the disadvantages.”
“But if Fourth Madam has designs on you in the future…”
“At that time, if I still can’t subdue and control her, it would be because my skills are inferior,” Li Jinghua said calmly. “In Lin’an City, only the two of us sisters-in-law can rely on each other and protect the children. If we still have a conflict, we’ll be courting death. So don’t let me hear these words again.”
Wen Cui lowered her head and agreed.
Li Jinghua sighed. It was impossible to say that she had no grievances. She could understand why Qi Xiuyuan didn’t trust her in the past. After all, she couldn’t trust her husband completely either. Besides, she didn’t have a child at that time.
However, now that she had given birth, it meant that she had the opportunity to completely integrate into the Qi family. Qi Xiuyuan had indeed given her many rights because of this and told her many secrets that she didn’t know before. However, compared to what Mu Yangling knew, she knew too little.
Before Mu Yangling gave birth to her son, she had already gained the trust of Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran. He would tell her many things and even discuss them with her. Because she knew that she and Qi Haoran were childhood sweethearts and that her father was her husband’s subordinate, and that she might have been involved in the confidential matters of the brothers since she was young, she was not jealous and did not complain.
However, it had been a year since she gave birth to her eldest son. Yet in Qi Xiuyuan’s heart, she was still inferior to this sister-in-law. It was impossible to say that there was no resentment in her heart, but she would always remind herself that it was still early. As time passed, his trust in her would naturally increase.
Fortunately, Mu Yangling, this sister-in-law, was smart when it came to external matters, but she was not scheming enough when it came to the internal matters. This allowed them to get along well.
Li Jinghua thought for a while and heaved a sigh of relief. After finally thinking it through, she personally met the four maidservants and two servant girls who had been sent over. After taking them down a notch, she gave them some rewards and then kept them by her and her son’s side. As for subduing them, this was not something that could be done overnight. Naturally, she had to take it slow.