"Today, I really owe it all to you for coming in time. Otherwise, I was in a bind. I really don't know what those crazy people from the Qin family would have done to Mianmian. Those were truly despicable deeds," Li Ying said as she tightly hugged her daughter. While thanking Lu Xunguang, she couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of fear.
Lu Xunguang didn't think much of it and pulled her even closer.
Feeling her warmth in his arms, Li Ying was like a docile little bird, snuggling against him.
The faint scent of saponin on her body was like a soothing balm, making him feel indescribably at ease.
He was like a majestic lion. Protecting them, the mother and daughter, was his duty, and his alone.
"Aying, today's lesson wasn't enough to truly hurt Qin Jin. I'm afraid he won't let this go easily. Instead, he'll bear a grudge and wait for an opportunity to retaliate," he said softly, his eyes lingering lovingly on her face.
Li Ying nodded.
"I originally thought that since he's Mianmian's biological father, as long as he behaved himself, we could just go our separate ways. But since he's come to cause trouble several times, it seems there's no need to show him any mercy," she said as she gently pinched Mianmian's little face. "Don't worry. I already have a plan, and now is the perfect time."
Li Ying rubbed Mao Mao's soft cat head. Mao Mao stretched lazily, let out a long meow, and then trotted out of the door briskly.
Grandma Sun was so frightened by today's events that she was almost out of her wits. Li Ying couldn't stand her constant self - reproach, so she simply took her to the night market to relax.
Apart from the food stalls, there were also many traveling peddlers and acrobatic troupes in the night market. The performances were quite interesting.
Grandma Sun watched the magic show for a while, and finally, her nervous heart calmed down.
Li Ying smiled happily and tossed two pieces of silver into the gong.
The little girl collecting tips had never seen such a generous customer. Gratefully, she pulled the other members of the magic troupe and almost knelt down to thank Li Ying.
"Miss, you're so kind - hearted. We really don't know how to repay you. From now on, we'll burn incense and pray for you every day, asking the Bodhisattva to bless you!"
Li Ying laughed. "The so - called blessing from the Bodhisattva is too illusory. If you really want to thank me, help me do something. Once it's done, I guarantee you'll make a good profit."
The troupe members looked at each other. At first, they were a bit hesitant, but after hearing Li Ying's instructions, their eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Thank you, miss, for your guidance! Don't worry. We guarantee we'll do this beautifully and keep you out of it!"
The magic troupe thanked her repeatedly, packed up their things, and went to prepare. Li Ying then took everyone back to the village safely.
A short while later, Mao Mao strolled back proudly, rubbing against Li Ying's feet as if asking for a reward.
The next day, it was heard that the Qin family seemed to have offended some wandering immortal. All night long, there were strange noises like cats crying and foxes laughing, and the whole place was in chaos.
The Qin family was extremely disturbed. Fortunately, a wandering Taoist priest came and performed a ritual, and things finally calmed down a bit.
Qin Jin knew very well that it was Li Ying's evil cat causing all the trouble again.
But those furry creatures were so smart. He wanted to make an example by killing one, but he couldn't even catch a single cat hair.
He flew into a rage, smashing several cups before finally calming down. Then he ordered a servant to send an invitation. Soon, Lady Lian appeared at the side door of the Qin mansion, looking tired after a long journey, wrapped in a cloak.
"Master Qin seems so angry. Could it be that your plan against Li Ying backfired?" Lady Lian sat down in the main seat on her own and casually picked up a cup of tea.
"That woman is full of tricks. Why are you teasing me, madam? I invited you here today to discuss something important," Qin Jin said. He didn't like Lady Lian's arrogant attitude, but since he needed her help, he had to apologize obediently.
"I heard that your husband has a close relationship with the prefect. I'm bold enough to ask you to introduce me to him," he said. "I've got hold of that woman's weakness. The prefect hates evil, and once he hears my story, he'll surely punish that immoral woman, Li Ying, severely!"
He spoke with such certainty that Lady Lian only thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"My husband does have some connection with the prefect, but he doesn't like me interfering in such matters. If you have any letters, I can secretly send someone to deliver them. But for other things, I'm afraid I can't help," she said.
Qin Jin quickly thanked her. "Madam, you don't need to go through so much trouble! During the prefectural examination, the prefect took a fancy to me. As long as he sees my letter, he'll surely agree to meet me!"
Lady Lian took his letter. Afraid that her long absence would arouse her husband's suspicion, she left in a hurry.
The two Qin brothers watched her get into the carriage. After a long while, Qin Shao asked, "Brother, how confident are you about meeting the prefect?"
Qin Jin took a deep breath, full of confidence.
Now he was just a scholar, and the prefect might not take him seriously. But what if he were already a sure - fire new champion of the imperial examination?
"Go and fetch the robe we made the other day," he said.
Everything was under his control. He didn't say more to Qin Shao but just picked up a moon - white long gown and stroked it lovingly.
Qin Shao didn't understand, but he knew it was useless to ask more, so he wisely kept his mouth shut.
After seeing Lady Lian off, the main gate of the Qin mansion was closed tightly, and it was completely silent.
In the fishing village, it was a different scene. In the past few days, the fishing girls who came to visit Mianmian at Grandma Sun's house almost wore out the threshold.
Mrs. Zhang put down a tender chicken and a basket of seabird eggs and chatted with Li Ying.
"Aying, I've spread the word in the town that the words written with cuttlefish ink will disappear after a while, just as you asked me to!"
"There's also a strange thing. My husband said that the Qin family has secretly started buying cuttlefish ink at a high price in a fishing village in the neighboring town. Could it be that they're trying to steal our cuttlefish noodle business? But the amount they need isn't very large..."
No matter how she looked at it, this matter seemed strange. She couldn't figure it out, so she rushed to tell Li Ying.
A Man wondered, "They just had their grain tax and land confiscated, and then were harassed by Mao Mao. Has the Qin family fallen so quickly? It's only been a few days, and they've even resorted to using cuttlefish ink to write?"
Li Ying smiled slightly. "Go and ask Shihu if anyone from the Qin family has come to buy fish bone glue these days."
A Man soon came back excitedly to report. "Sister, you're really amazing! Shihu said that although the servant covered his face furtively, he still recognized him. It was clearly the bookboy beside Qin Jin! He almost bought up all the fish bone glue in Deji Hall!"
Li Ying smiled.
All her efforts to spread the news were worth it.
As she expected, Qin Jin was getting desperate. In order to pass the imperial examination, he was resorting to any means.
A Man saw that she was confident and was about to ask further when they heard a whooshing sound from outside the window.
A short arrow flew in and stuck straight into the table.
Before Li Ying could react, Lu Xunguang rushed forward in a single stride and shielded her behind him.
"Aying, it's a letter," he said as he skillfully took a thin piece of straw paper from the arrow and frowned.
There were only a few words on it.
"Lian and Jin are colluding. They're inviting the prefect. There may be changes. Be careful."
The handwriting on the note was completely unfamiliar to Li Ying. She was a bit surprised. Who on earth was helping her secretly?
"Sister Zhang, go back and tell the waiters at the hot - pot restaurant and the inn to be vigilant. Also, remind those at Yufengxiang and Dingtailou. If they see Qin Jin booking a private room, come and inform me immediately."