Volume 1, Chapter 7: Mu Wanwan: Burn It!

"You... you... stop this! I believe you, I believe you! Please, stop, ouch! Ouch!" Zi Ling wailed, begging for mercy repeatedly.

Mu Wanwan, however, paid her no heed. Zi Ling was a vicious servant who followed that hypocritical "white lotus" Xiao Ruyan; she had spent her days bullying her elder sister and Li'er.

She asked with feigned surprise, "You believe me? How is that possible? You wicked slave, you say you believe me, but who knows what you're really thinking?"

As she spoke, ignoring Zi Ling’s wails and attempts to dodge, she swung the wooden club, landing precise and accurate blows upon her. She was a master archer, after all; precision was second nature.

"Don't get too full of yourself! Even if I am a servant, I belong to the Second Young Lady. If she finds out how you've treated me, she won't let this slide. You and that bastard can just wait and see..." Seeing that begging was useless, Zi Ling spat out threats once more.

A murderous glint flickered in Mu Wanwan's eyes. "Oh? You almost made me forget about her."

With a flick of her wrist, she pulled out silver needles, swiftly striking Zi Ling’s mute and sleep acupoints. She repeated the same maneuver to knock out the stable boy, then stripped off their outer garments and tossed them together.

Mu Wanwan’s movements were fluid and seamless, performed with such brisk efficiency that the young maid standing by watched in stunned silence. It wasn't that the maids were too timid to call for help; they had been muted by Mu Wanwan long ago.

The day would not end until those who had harmed Li-ge'er were dealt with.

Once it was finished, Nanny Rong arrived. "Eldest Miss, what should we do?"

"Burn it," Mu Wanwan said indifferently, ignoring the terrified expressions of those nearby.

She turned to look at the bewildered Xiao Rongli and offered a faint smile. "Don't be afraid, A-Li. Sister is here, and I will never let anyone who has hurt you go unpunished."

She had returned to the Marquis’s estate for one reason: revenge.

"Sis... Sister?" Xiao Rongli gazed at Mu Wanwan, who shared his sister’s face, momentarily lost in a trance.

"Yes, A-Li, I am your sister too. I have returned." Mu Wanwan’s words carried a double meaning. She reached out to stroke her younger brother’s messy hair, forcing a relaxed smile.

"Sister, I want to take revenge myself!" Xiao Rongli lifted his small face, meeting her gaze with a determined look.

"Very well, as you wish." Mu Wanwan took a torch from the side and handed it to Xiao Rongli. "Remember, A-Li: in this world, the good do not live long, while the wicked thrive for a thousand years! Anyone who wants you dead—you must use every means possible to send them all to hell, leaving not a single one behind!"

"Will you think I am cruel, Sister?" Xiao Rongli lowered his head, his voice soft and guarded.

"No," Mu Wanwan shook her head gently.

She was not the saintly elder sister he had known; she was a rakshasa returned from the depths of hell.

"Go, A-Li. Send those who bullied and harmed you to hell yourself." Only then would his heart be free of its burden.

Mu Wanwan was skilled in medicine; she could clearly see that Xiao Rongli had developed a inner demon after struggling in vain for so long. As the saying went, a heart’s malady required a heart’s cure, and the deaths of these people were the remedy. By doing it himself, the cure would be complete.

Nanny Rong said nothing, merely piling up the hay. She had long wanted to do this. These animals had killed the young mistress and tried to destroy the young master; they were not worth a shred of pity.

"Whoosh—" The fire roared to life. Mu Wanwan led the nanny and her young brother into the darkness. She cast a glance back at the sea of flames, then scanned the Marquis’s estate, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Nanny Rong looked worried. "Eldest Miss, with a fire this large, it will soon be discovered. If those people didn't die, wouldn't they expose you?"

"They won't," Mu Wanwan said, picking up the feverish Xiao Rongli and striding away.

The wretched group had been so afraid of their deeds being exposed that they had already cleared the area of other servants, and Mu Wanwan had smashed all the nearby water vats used for firefighting. Save the fire? They could dream.

"Nanny, look after Li'er. I will be right back!"

As soon as she returned to Listening Wind Courtyard, Mu Wanwan dropped those words and vanished into the night in dark attire. A-Li had a high fever; without medicine, he would not survive on acupuncture alone. She had to go find help.

Xiao Rongli was the only family she had left in this world; she would never let anything happen to him. She darted through the night, quickly arriving at a hidden alley—the place she had previously agreed upon with her guard, Mo Bai.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Three taps, and the wooden door opened.

"Young Mistress!" Mo Bai bowed immediately upon seeing her in her night gear.

Mu Wanwan nodded. "No need for formalities. Mo Bai, help me get medicine. I need something for a high fever, urgently!"

"Yes, Young Mistress!" Mo Bai stood and headed into the inner chamber to gather the herbs.

Moments later, he returned with a wrapped package. "Young Mistress, these are pills previously refined by the Taoist master. I thought it might be inconvenient to brew medicine in the Marquis's estate, so these specialized pills can be used in an emergency."

Mu Wanwan took the herbs and pills, tucking them away. Just as she was about to leave, Mo Bai spoke again, "Young Mistress, this is the information our scouts gathered regarding the Marquis of Wuan. Please, take a look." He turned to a wooden box and retrieved an unopened letter, handing it to her.

Mu Wanwan’s eyes flickered, but thinking of Xiao Rongli waiting for her, she took the letter and hurried away.

At that moment, the Marquis of Wuan’s estate was in chaos. The servants were choked by thick smoke, and upon seeing the raging inferno, they began to shriek in terror.

"Fire! There's a fire! Someone, come help put it out!"

"Fire! The stables are on fire!"

The servants cried out as they ran, quickly rousing the entire estate.

In the Hall of Peace and Longevity, the Old Madam heard the clamor outside and frowned in annoyance. "Nanny Gao, go see what is happening out there. What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket!"

"Yes, Matriarch, I shall go at once." Nanny Gao replied and headed out.

Seeing this, Lady Fang exchanged a look with Xiao Ruyan.

Xiao Ruyan understood and immediately began to wail, "Grandmother, you must seek justice for me! If that Xiao Qingqing truly becomes the Princess Regent, I fear our estate will never know a day of peace again..."

Lady Fang chimed in, "Indeed, Matriarch. I also feel something is wrong. The moment she returned, she beat the servants, and then, disregarding the reputation of the house, she stirred up trouble in front of the Prince Regent. If she marries into the Prince Regent’s estate, I fear the Marquis will face great difficulties in the imperial court!"

The Old Madam sat sternly at the head of the table, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Ruyan and Lady Fang, her expression filled with impatience.

"Enough. I am not blind; I see things clearly. That Xiao Qingqing is naturally not to be relied upon, or do you think I would have taken your side otherwise? But her marriage to the Prince Regent was decreed by the late Emperor. Even if I wanted to help, I am powerless to do so. Otherwise, why would I have swallowed this humiliation today?" The mere thought of what happened at the gates earlier made her blood boil. "And by the way, since she is still alive, do not push things too far, or you will only invite more trouble!"

Before she could finish, Nanny Gao rushed in from outside. "Matriarch, it is a disaster!"