Chapter 24: There are bad people among the masses.

Ding Suian stayed up in the study for most of the night, only climbing over the wall to leave near the end of the yin hour.

Upon returning to his residence, he chewed a huaju pill. Before long, the Zhongji Acupoint began to churn as if boiling.

He guided the Qi upwards, passing through the Guanyuan and Shenque points straight to the Tanzhong point, before letting the Protective Aura permeate his skin, flesh, and muscles.

To advance from the Chenggang Realm to the Hua Gang Realm, one must repeatedly disperse the Protective Aura from the Zhongji Acupoint into the skin, bones, and meridians, achieving Astral Integration.

Then he could be as handsome as that old coot Ruan Guofan!

The Protective Aura contained within the superb Medicinal Pill dispersed throughout his body, and the effect was immediate; he could clearly feel his body being refined, becoming light and full of power.

Ding Suian had never been particularly diligent in cultivating Martial Skills.

But after the danger of the night before last, he felt it was best to have more life-saving methods in this unprotected era.

Every Realm of a Martial Artist is divided into three levels: Minor Achievement, Proficient, and Perfected.

Ding Suian hadn’t even reached the threshold of Minor Achievement yet, still quite far from Ruan Guofan’s Realm.

However, since he had latched onto the Princess Consort’s big thigh, he shouldn’t have to worry about Medicinal Pills anymore.

The only pity was that Medicinal Pills couldn’t be eaten like steamed buns; a pill like the huaju pill required ten days for the Pill Poison to be naturally metabolized and expelled from the body.

A bit slow.

However, the Protective Aura gained from narrating erotic stories was not subject to this restriction. It was just that the audience was small, and he didn’t gain much each time.

Ding Suian suddenly had an idea. If he wrote the stories down and published them, would he be able to earn Protective Aura from the readers?

Having experienced Transmigration at least once, how did he end up writing erotic stories?

A tiny bit of shame flashed and vanished in his heart.

Being an an upright person is my bottom line!

Hah!

A Transmigrator who doesn’t want to write erotic stories isn’t a good Squad Leader!

Ding Suian turned over, got out of bed, added water, and began grinding ink.

‘A sixteen-year-old beauty whose body is like melting butter, carries a sword at her waist to slay the foolish man.’

Just as Ding Suian was passionately immersed in the creation of reproductive literature, someone next door in Huguai Garden was slightly annoyed.

Lin Hansu sat stiffly on the first floor of Ji Pavilion until the mao hour. When she learned that Ding Suian had genuinely just finished reading the book and left, a burst of inexplicable anger welled up in her heart.

This was because she had dressed up, ready to be flirted with, but was instead neglected.

But she couldn’t bring herself to brazenly question Young Master Ding about why he hadn’t come to see her.

Yet, this anger needed to be vented.

Thus—

Granny Zhang, did you deliver the silver notes I asked you to give to The Second Steward in the front estate?

Reporting to Your Highness, they were delivered yesterday. The Second Steward also asked this old servant to relay a message, saying that he was previously forced by circumstances to feign compliance with Madam Wu and Steward Hou, but he has always held deep respect for Your Highness in his heart!

Hmph~

Lin Hansu scoffed at The Second Steward’s words but still said, “Mm, go tell him later that this Princess Consort is aware of his loyalty. Have him invite Steward Hou for drinks at noon. If the matter is successful, all past grievances will be forgotten, and this Princess Consort will let him become a steward at the estate outside the city.”

Since yesterday, many people in Prince Lanyangs Estate had fallen into a state of anxiety and apprehension.

The most terrified in the front estate were Steward Hou and his lackeys.

Over the years, relying on Madam Wu’s backing, Steward Hou had accumulated countless major and minor grudges with the Princess Consort. Last month, when the Prince passed away, he was the one who rushed forward to capture the Princess Consort throughout the estate.

Knowing he could not turn back, Steward Hou, upon learning of Madam Wu’s death, resolutely chose to continue collaborating with The Du Brothers.

But yesterday, after The Du Brothers failed to cause trouble at the estate and instead caused a scene at the Government Office, the subsequent takeover of the Jintai Temple case by the West Yamen’s Black Cavalry made him sense danger.

At the beginning of the wu hour that day, The Second Steward prepared a few small dishes at his residence and invited him over for drinks.

“Old Brother Hou, now that the Old Ancestor has suddenly passed,” The Second Steward personally poured wine for Steward Hou and sighed worriedly, “What are we going to do from now on?”

“The Old Ancestor is gone, but this Princely Estate still belongs to the Du Family! We just need to keep a close watch for Second Master and Third Master. How could a mere woman turn the world upside down?”

“Oh? What plans do Second Master and Third Master have next?” The Second Steward’s eyes lit up, and he poured another cup of wine for Steward Hou.

“I went to Second Master’s residence last night and suggested to him that if we want to eliminate Madam Lin, we must first get rid of that young fellow named Ding!”

Speaking of this, Steward Hou showed dejection on his face, disappointment evident in his tone, “But the appearance of the West Yamen’s Black Cavalry yesterday frightened Second Master and Third Master badly. Second Master neither agreed nor disagreed, and has been hiding at home behind closed doors ever since.”

Steward Hou held his wine cup and suddenly glanced sideways at The Second Steward. “You’ve offended the Princess Consort quite a bit over the years too. Neither of us can turn back. If the Princess Consort gains power, none of us will fare well. You must not have second thoughts!”

“What are you saying, Old Brother! The Old Ancestor’s kindness to me over the years was as heavy as a mountain! Now that she has suddenly passed away, am I, Wang Jiu, the kind of person who forgets kindness? In my eyes, now that the Old Ancestor is gone, Second Master and Third Master are our masters.”

Speaking excitedly, The Second Steward’s eyes turned red.

Seeing this, Steward Hou quickly raised his hand and patted The Second Steward’s shoulder to comfort him. “I, Hou, naturally trust you. Your loyalty will be known to Second Master and Third Master. Come, let’s drink~”

After drinking a cup of wine, before they could set down their glasses, they suddenly heard a rush of footsteps outside.

Immediately after, they heard a woman shouting, “This way! This old servant saw the thief flee in this direction.”

Judging by the sound, it was right outside The Second Steward’s residence.

Steward Hou and The Second Steward exchanged glances, stood up simultaneously, and walked out.

Outside, Lin Hansu stood outside the eastern wing of the second courtyard, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, her expression cold and aloof.

Behind her stood more than ten burly women.

No matter what Steward Hou thought internally, the woman before him was the rightful mistress of the princely estate. He quickly bowed and stepped forward to salute, saying, “Why has the Princess Consort come to the front courtyard? Is there something urgent?”

Lin Hansu looked down and surveyed him but remained silent. Granny Zhang, standing beside her, spoke up: “Half an hour ago, a thief entered Huguai Garden and stole Your Highness’s jewelry. Someone saw the thief escape into Steward Hou’s courtyard.”

Steward Hou suddenly looked up, gave Lin Hansu a fleeting glance, and quickly lowered his head again. “Is the Princess Consort suggesting that this old servant is the thief who stole the property?”

At this moment, he understood completely: Lin Hansu was moving against him. Even the excuse was the same one he had used when he tried to apprehend Lin Hansu earlier.

It was just that the roles were reversed now. A month ago, Steward Hou framed Lin Hansu as a ‘thieving female dependent’; now, Lin Hansu was framing him as a ‘thieving rogue.’

Lin Hansu’s expression was dignified and reserved, and her tone was flat. “If your conscience is clear, do you dare let Granny Zhang conduct a search?”

Well, this line sounded so familiar again.

Last month, when Third Master Du and Steward Hou led people to surround the West Courtyard of the second entrance, Third Master Du had questioned Ding Suian exactly like this!

A woman’s desire for revenge. Not only must she have revenge, but she must also replicate the entire scene.

But Steward Hou did not dare to laugh heartily and say ‘I dare not,’ as Ding Suian had done.

He truly did not dare let Lin Hansu’s people search his room. Having been a servant all his life and witnessed countless inner-courtyard struggles, how could he lack this knowledge?

Since Granny Zhang was so insistent on searching, something must have been planted in his room beforehand.

In desperation, Steward Hou saw The Second Steward shrinking his neck and hiding nearby, and quickly said, “Granny Zhang, you said the thief entered Huguai Garden half an hour ago?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe, this old servant was drinking with Steward Wang half an hour ago. He can testify to this.”

Lin Hansu looked toward The Second Steward. “Steward Wang, is this true?”

T-T-True~

The Second Steward stammered out a reply, but before Steward Hou could sigh in relief, The Second Steward suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly. “Princess Consort, this matter has nothing to do with this old servant! My nephew works at a pawn shop. When Steward Hou asked me out for drinks, he only mentioned that he had some jewelry he wanted my nephew to sell. I truly didn’t know he stole them.”

!

Steward Hou turned around in astonishment, staring intently at The Second Steward.

The Second Steward dared not look at him, but trembling, he pulled a Phoenix-headed Gold Hairpin from his sleeve and held it up with both hands. “Princess Consort, this is the jewelry Steward Hou gave this old servant to sell. I truly was unaware—”

The Second Steward!

Steward Hou’s wizened face twitched violently, and he staggered forward, intending to fight The Second Steward to the death.

There are bad people among the masses!

This Phoenix hairpin is precisely one of the pieces of jewelry stolen from Your Highness. What else does Steward Hou have to say?

Granny Zhang immediately brought two burly women forward, seizing both of Steward Hou’s arms, one on the left and one on the right.

Meanwhile, Granny Xu brought Yi Huan and Wansu, who carried a high-legged tea table and a Pear Blossom Armchair into the courtyard.

Lin Hansu lifted her skirt, sat down steadily, and elegantly held a teacup. She said without any emotion, “Within one month, the Prince and my mother both passed away. Yet, you base slaves dare to steal your master’s property in broad daylight. If I do not punish you severely, this Princess Consort will fail the spirits of the Prince and my mother in heaven! The Second Steward, ignorance is no crime. Take men and beat Steward Hou to death.”

Steward Hou’s slack eyes suddenly opened wide.

What he hadn’t expected was that immediately after the Old Ancestor’s passing, Lin Hansu would dare to kill off these old servants without caring about outside opinions.

Since he was going to die either way, Steward Hou, whose arms were restrained, raised his head and roared, “Princess Consort! If you want this old servant’s life, just say so! Why must you frame me?”

Lin Hansu held her hand in the shape of an orchid, tapping the lid lightly against the rim of the white porcelain cup. The rising steam blurred the frosty look in her eyes. “Heh~ laughable. Does this Princess Consort need to frame you to kill an old slave who deceived his master?”