Chapter 139: A Show of Force? A Debt-Collector from Hell! (Part 1)

The Old Madam? What had Wu Tan just said? The Old Madam?

Hadn’t the Old Madam burned to death on the mountain last night? Meng Shi had only just confirmed it with Fourth Master Xue early this morning!

Meng Shi’s first thought was that Wu Tan had somehow learned the truth and was deliberately testing her.

But Wu Tan’s smile was bright as spring sunshine, utterly free of gloom—

Given Wu Tan’s feelings for the Old Madam, if anything had truly happened to her, then no matter how skilled the girl was at pretending, she would never have been able to smile at a time like this.

The expression on Meng Shi’s face shifted unmistakably from shock, to numbness, and then to anxious panic.

Wu Tan and Wu Qinglin saw it all, which only confirmed their earlier judgment—

What had happened on the mountain yesterday had been Meng Shi’s doing.

Realizing that she had lost control of herself, Meng Shi forced herself to calm down and asked, “Your grandmother? Didn’t you accompany her to Xiangguo Temple to offer incense yesterday?”

Wu Tan shrugged. “Something came up along the way. Grandmother returned yesterday afternoon. Didn’t Second Mother know?”

Returned yesterday afternoon? How was that possible?

A tempest instantly raged through Meng Shi’s heart. As wave after wave crashed over her, she felt almost unable to breathe.

“Did she? I wasn’t feeling well yesterday and spent the entire day in the southern compound. Why… why did no one tell me?”

She forced out the final words with what little strength she had left. Even that was labored and strained.

Wu Qingyu had also come over from the rear courtyard by then.

He had not seen Meng Shi’s expression. Walking straight to her side, he looked directly at Wu Tan and asked casually, “How are you feeling? Should we have a physician examine you first?”

“I’ll go fetch an imperial physician later,” Wu Qinglin answered for her. He lifted his chin slightly toward Wu Qingyu. “You should go to Grandmother’s place. Did you report your return? She must be worried.”

“Uh…” Wu Qingyu scratched the back of his head. “There was too much going on. I forgot. I haven’t had the chance.”

“You didn’t come home last night,” Wu Tan said. “Second Sister-in-law must be worried. Why don’t you go get her and bring her to Grandmother’s room?”

There was clearly more to Wu Tan’s story than she had revealed.

Lin Yanyao was now part of the Wu family as well. Out of basic courtesy, she ought to be present.

Wu Qingyu gave a slight shrug. “All right. You go ahead first. I’ll go get her.”

He turned to leave, then belatedly realized that Meng Shi had been standing there in silence for some time. He stopped and saw that her complexion was poor, but he did not think much of it. He merely asked, “Mother, what’s wrong? I thought I heard you say you weren’t feeling well. Is it serious?”

Meng Shi hurriedly steadied herself and shook her head. “It’s nothing serious.”

Wu Qingyu said no more and turned toward the rear courtyard.

Wu Qinglin looked at Meng Shi and added, “Yesterday’s incident was serious. I think it would be best if the entire family were present. Please have someone bring Third Sister over as well.”

Although he was certain Meng Shi would not reveal anything to Wu Qingqiong, the whole matter had ultimately arisen because of Wu Qingqiong. Did she really think she could simply stay out of it? That made no sense.

His tone was so mild that Meng Shi could not tell whether he knew anything. With no convenient excuse to refuse, she said, “All right. I’ll go bring her myself.”

Her emotions were unstable, and she did not want to walk alongside Wu Qinglin and Wu Tan. This gave her an excuse to avoid them for the moment.

Wu Qinglin did not press her. “Then I’ll trouble you, Second Mother. I’ll take Tan’er to Grandmother first.”

With that, he carried Wu Tan toward the Old Madam’s residence in the rear courtyard.

Meng Shi remained where she was and did not turn around at once.

Shurong stood beside her, holding her arm, her emotions in turmoil as well. Only after Wu Qinglin and his sister had gone some distance did she ask in a trembling whisper, “Madam, the Old Madam…”

Could this be some kind of haunting? The Old Madam had returned yesterday? Why had no one in the southern compound heard a thing?

And yet—

When Fourth Master Xue arrived early that morning, he had sworn with absolute certainty that the Old Madam had perished in the fire.

Meng Shi clenched her handkerchief. Now that Wu Qinglin and Wu Tan were no longer before her, the expression on her face twisted into something nearly terrifying. Gritting her teeth, she said slowly, “What else could it be? They suspect me, so they deliberately kept it from me!”

The Old Madam was still alive? Meng Shi had planned everything so carefully. For the sake of certainty, she had even arranged for Qu Baochang to serve as her final trump card. And yet she had still failed?

At that moment, Meng Shi’s fury reached its peak.

But she was standing in the garden of the front courtyard in broad daylight. She could not afford to lose control.

Shurong was utterly panicked. “Then… then what do we do? The Heir called for all of us to go to the Old Madam’s residence. Will he… will he…”

Had they been discovered? Had they truly been found out?

Was her mistress about to be held accountable?

“Compose yourself!” Meng Shi shot her a cold, severe look and hissed, “So what if they suspect me? They have no evidence. If they had truly obtained proof, do you think Wu Qinglin would have spoken to me so courteously just now? Unless they caught me red-handed, none of them can do anything to me!”

Shurong was still trembling. “But—”

“There is no ‘but’!” Meng Shi cut her off. “From this moment on, mind your own behavior. You are not to say a single unnecessary word. The rest is none of your concern.”

Afterward, she drew several deep breaths to suppress the agitation in her heart and went with Shurong to Yunlan Pavilion to fetch Wu Qingqiong.

At the main residence, the Old Madam had spent the entire night awake, waiting for Wu Tan’s return.

To make matters worse, Nanny Zhou was not there, and no one else could persuade her to rest. Cheng Cheng was anxious herself, so she stayed up with the Old Madam throughout the night.

Wu Tan had specifically instructed her not to make a fuss after returning to the estate. Cheng Cheng had not dared wait at the gatehouse for news, and therefore had not even known that Wu Qingyu had returned ahead of them. She learned of it only when Wu Qinglin entered the courtyard carrying Wu Tan.

“Eldest Young Master!” Cheng Cheng stood by the window of the heated room. The instant she saw them, she cried out joyfully, then hurried to shake the Old Madam, who was sitting on the brick bed and nodding off. “Old Madam! Eldest Young Master! He’s brought Second Miss back!”

The Old Madam was advanced in age and had gone a full day and night without sleep. Her condition was plainly poor, and she had none of the vigor of a young girl like Cheng Cheng. Only when she heard this did she suddenly awaken. She hurriedly opened her eyes and tried to get down. “Quickly…”

Cheng Cheng crouched down to put on her shoes, while Ruyi opened the curtain leading into the outer room.

Wu Qinglin carried Wu Tan inside.

Wu Tan called out from a distance, “Grandmother! We’re back!”

The Old Madam looked up and saw the wounds on Wu Tan’s face, along with the shabby coarse-cloth servant’s clothing she wore. Her left leg was injured as well. Shock seized her, and she froze.

“Grandmother, you didn’t sleep last night, did you? You look rather pale,” Wu Qinglin said as he carried Wu Tan into the inner room and set her down on the brick bed.

Cheng Cheng hurried over to help settle Wu Tan. The moment she saw the wounds on the girl’s face and hands, tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Miss, how did you end up like this?”

Hearing Cheng Cheng cry, the Old Madam finally came fully to herself. She did not even bother putting on her shoes before climbing down and rushing to Wu Tan.

“What happened—”

Before she could finish, Wu Tan quickly raised a hand to stop her, crying out in alarm, “Grandmother, don’t lean on me! My leg…”

The Old Madam’s hand remained suspended in midair, her body rigid.

Cheng Cheng lifted Wu Tan’s skirt and saw that the girl’s entire left leg had been immobilized with splints and bandages.

The Old Madam felt her heart contract violently, followed by a deep, dull ache that spread through her chest.

Avoiding the injured leg, she edged around it and pulled her granddaughter into her arms.

At her age, she had long since grown unaccustomed to tears, whatever happened. Given her status and position, there was little in this world that could truly shake her anymore. Yet now, holding Wu Tan, she suddenly wept until she could no longer speak.

Wu Qinglin did not know how to comfort her. He heard Wu Tan murmuring beside the Old Madam’s ear, “Grandmother, I’m fine. They’re only superficial wounds. I’ll recover after a little rest. In a few days, I’ll be lively and bouncing around again.”

The Old Madam said nothing. She simply held her tightly.

As she was still crying, Wu Qingyu arrived with Lin Yanyao.

Seeing Wu Tan in such a wretched state, Lin Yanyao was badly frightened. She hurried forward two steps. “Tan’er, what happened to you?”

But with the Old Madam blocking the way, she could not join them in a three-way embrace, so she could only stand nearby with reddened eyes.

Uncomfortable in the Old Madam’s embrace, Wu Tan hurried to comfort her again. “Grandmother! I truly am fine. Please calm down. Second Sister-in-law is here. Aren’t you embarrassed to let your new granddaughter-in-law see you making such a spectacle of yourself?”

The Old Madam’s emotions were tangled. It was not merely concern for her granddaughter. She knew that Wu Tan had fallen into this state to protect her.

At first, when Wu Tan had said she would follow them down the mountain later, the Old Madam had thought nothing of it. Only after returning to the estate and hearing Chen Gang instruct the gatehouse staff not to spread the news had she realized something was wrong. After pressing him, she learned that Wu Tan had volunteered to remain on the mountain, buying time for the Old Madam to escape while delaying the hidden attackers.

The Old Madam had lived a long life and experienced countless storms, yet she had rarely been deeply moved by anyone or anything. This time, however, a child had nearly sacrificed her life to protect her.

“It’s all Grandmother’s fault! I’m old and useless!” The Old Madam released her and wiped her tears, intending to pull herself together. But the instant she began to speak, her emotions broke down once more. Tears streamed down her aged face as she seized Wu Tan’s hand and said remorsefully, “It’s only by the grace of heaven that you returned safely. If anything had happened to you, how could I ever have faced your father and your deceased mother? How could I have gone on living?”

Wu Tan could not bear to see the Old Madam cry. At her age, everyone felt awkward watching her weep. So she grinned and tried to make light of it.

“Oh, come now! Nothing happened in the end, did it? Besides, you’re so old now. You can’t keep standing in front of me to shield me forever. You care about your dignity, and so do I. And I couldn’t very well let all your love go to waste, could I? If you truly feel guilty, then just consider this an early repayment for all the care you’ve given me.”

“What do you mean, an early repayment? Don’t say such unlucky things!” Her distraction worked. The Old Madam’s mood improved somewhat. She glared at Wu Tan reproachfully, wiped away her tears, and then looked around before remembering Nanny Zhou. “Where is Nanny Zhou? She…”

“She’s fine too!” Afraid the Old Madam might misunderstand and become upset again, Wu Tan quickly explained, “The carriage from our estate broke down. Eldest Brother was anxious to bring me home, but the carriage we borrowed from Xiangguo Temple was too small for everyone. So we left Nanny Zhou on the mountain. Old Madam Chen said she would return this afternoon and bring Nanny Zhou with her.”

“That’s good. As long as she’s safe, that’s good.” The Old Madam slowly exhaled.

Wu Qingyu stepped forward to support her. “Grandmother, running barefoot around the room like this is hardly dignified. Come, sit back on the brick bed.”

The Old Madam looked down and finally felt the chill beneath her feet. With his help, she circled around the low table and sat down.

Before she had even settled, Meng Shi arrived with Wu Qingqiong.

Meng Shi was weighed down by worry and moved with extreme caution. Wu Qingqiong, however, had barely entered the room before seeing Wu Tan’s disheveled appearance and injured leg. Delight bloomed in her heart, along with the satisfaction of having finally gained the upper hand. She immediately let out a mocking laugh.

“Oh! It’s only been two days since we last met. Who did you get into a fight with this time? Look at the state you’re in. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Meng Shi knew her daughter had no sense, but because she was preoccupied, she had been careless. By the time she wanted to stop her, it was already too late.

The Old Madam snatched up a cup from the table and hurled it at Wu Qingqiong’s feet.

“Shut your mouth!”

Wu Qingqiong screamed and leaped aside, her face pale as she hurried behind Meng Shi.

Meng Shi opened her mouth, but before she could speak, the Old Madam glared at her with undisguised disgust.

“Who told you to let her out to disgrace herself again? Is this how you raise a child? She’s grown so old and still cannot distinguish between family and outsider. Her own sister is injured, and instead of showing concern, she comes here to gloat? Has a dog eaten her conscience? Our Wu family is descended from loyal and righteous men. How could we have raised such a heartless wretch?”

The scolding was aimed at Meng Shi as well.

The Old Madam had never liked Wu Qingqiong, but she was still her granddaughter and ordinarily would not use such vicious words. This time, however, she was heartbroken over Wu Tan’s injuries and had nowhere to vent her anger, so she took it out on them.

When Meng Shi saw the Old Madam sitting there safe and sound, her heart seemed to plunge straight into an icy cavern, freezing all the way through.

Where had things gone wrong? Judging from Fourth Master Xue’s fury at the time, the Old Madam should never have had a chance to escape.

Meng Shi’s resentment and fury were both nearly unbearable.

Wu Qingqiong cowered behind her, tears in her eyes. Meng Shi had no attention to spare for her and could only force herself to calm down.

“Mother, please do not be angry. I… Qinglin asked me to bring Qiong’er as well. He said he had something to discuss.”

The Old Madam paused and cast Wu Qinglin an inquiring look.

Wu Qinglin glanced around the room. Seeing that everyone was present, he said, “I asked them to come. Everyone, sit down.”

Meng Shi, Wu Qingyu, and the others looked to the Old Madam. Only after seeing that she did not object did they find chairs and sit.

Wu Qinglin bent down beside Wu Tan and said solemnly, “Tan’er, tell them.”

Wu Qingqiong frowned at Wu Tan, utterly bewildered. She wanted to speak, but one look at the Old Madam’s dark expression silenced her.

Wu Tan pressed her lips together, then spoke plainly.

“Yesterday, I accompanied Grandmother up the mountain to offer incense. We had intended to stay the night, but in the afternoon I happened to discover that someone had added a sleeping draught to the lamp oil meant for use that evening.”

Everyone present knew at least something of the matter. Only Lin Yanyao and Wu Qingqiong were hearing it for the first time, and both stared wide-eyed in shock.

Wu Tan continued, “At the time, we did not know who had tampered with the oil or what they intended. To avoid alerting them, I borrowed another family’s carriage and disguised Grandmother and Cheng Cheng before sending them down the mountain. That night, in order to avoid danger, I took Nanny Zhou to Old Madam Chen’s residence on the mountain. There, I discovered that the lamp oil in her room had also been tampered with. Someone later set fire to the place. They not only burned down the courtyard where Grandmother and I had been staying, but also burned to death a woman who happened to be sleeping in Grandmother’s bed. The Great Buddha Hall at Xiangguo Temple was set ablaze as well, and amid the chaos, several people pursued me, determined to kill me.”

The Old Madam listened in horror, her expression changing again and again.

When Meng Shi realized that Wu Tan’s cleverness had ruined her plans, she almost sprang from her seat to deal with the girl on the spot. Only tremendous self-control allowed her to restrain herself.

Wu Tan’s words were meant for her, but she paid no attention to Meng Shi’s reaction. Instead, she looked toward the Old Madam.

“Grandmother, that is all I know. The attackers tampered with the lamp oil in Old Madam Chen’s room, yet did not harm anyone from the Chen family. From that, it seems the person behind this had carefully planned everything and intended specifically to target you and me. I do not know whom I offended to inspire such hatred, but this matter clearly is not simple. For now, we have not explained the full truth to outsiders. Eldest Brother told the authorities that it was an attempted robbery and murder. But I am certain their true purpose was to kill—to kill you and me. They failed this time. They will probably try again.”

Wu Qingyu remained silent for a while before agreeing. “I personally examined the area around the fire afterward. The places they intended to burn had all been soaked with lamp oil. Their intention to kill was unmistakable.”

He then looked toward Wu Qinglin. “Eldest Brother, do you have any leads? Do we know who did it?”

Wu Qinglin shook his head. “Three of them died, and all the survivors escaped in the confusion. We made a mistake yesterday—we reached the mountain too late. But as Tan’er said, this matter is far from simple. I fear there may be further developments, which is why I called everyone here: to warn you all to be especially careful from now on. Second Brother and I will do everything we can to investigate and uncover the mastermind as soon as possible.”

Once the matter had been explained, Wu Qinglin, anxious to fetch an imperial physician for Wu Tan, told everyone they could leave.

The Old Madam remained unsettled and wanted to ask more questions, but she was also worried about Wu Tan’s injuries. She did not delay them and quickly dismissed everyone.

Lin Yanyao was worried about Wu Tan and prepared to follow her.

“Eldest Brother, you’re going to the Imperial Medical Office yourself, aren’t you? I’ll accompany Tan’er back to her residence.”

Wu Qinglin was about to nod when Wu Qingyu stepped forward, gently blocking her with a smile.

“The girl looks full of energy to me. It’s nothing serious. Let her go wash and change first; you can visit her later. Let’s escort Mother home. I also have something to discuss with her.”

Meng Shi frowned.

She already had a guilty conscience, so she had adopted one principle for the day—

Speak carefully and act cautiously.

She said nothing, fearing that too many words might expose a flaw. She merely gave Wu Qingyu an inquiring look.

He grinned. “It’s important. Come on, I’ll personally escort you home, Mother.”

With matters put so plainly, Meng Shi could not refuse. But before leaving, she glanced at Lin Yanyao.

Her instincts told her that whatever Wu Qingyu wanted to discuss with her must be related to the words she had entrusted to Lin Yanyao that night.

Yet with the Old Madam and the others present, she could not expose the matter. She could only agree.

“Then we’ll be going, Grandmother!” Wu Qingyu turned back to bid the Old Madam farewell, then said to Wu Tan, “I’ll come see you later.”

Wu Tan curled her lips and decided not to argue with him.

Meng Shi left the main residence with her two children and daughter-in-law.

Wu Qingqiong still wanted to whisper privately with her mother.

Wu Tan had suffered such a great misfortune. Although the Old Madam had forbidden anyone to make idle comments, Wu Qingqiong was delighted all the same. If she did not find someone to share her delight with, it would be like wearing fine clothes while walking through the night—an utter waste of the opportunity. So she clung to Meng Shi’s arm and followed close behind.

Meng Shi turned back impatiently. “Why are you following us? Go back to your own residence!”

“Why can’t I go? Even if you have a daughter-in-law now, I’m still your daughter!” Wu Qingqiong whined.

But before she could finish, Meng Shi had already lost patience. She ordered Muxin, “Take her back.”

Her tone was harsh, and Muxin did not dare disobey.

Wu Qingqiong still wanted to say something, but Muxin held her firmly and whispered, “Miss, can’t you see that Madam is in a bad mood? Don’t go. Perhaps another day.”

Only then did Wu Qingqiong notice Meng Shi’s unpleasant expression. She restrained herself somewhat, tossed her head in displeasure, and returned to Yunlan Pavilion.

Meng Shi returned to the southern compound with Wu Qingyu and Lin Yanyao. Once they entered and sat down, she ordered a maid to serve tea, then asked directly, “What did you want to discuss with me?”

Wu Qingyu took a sip of tea. His manner was remarkably pleasant as he broke into a broad, careless grin.

“Good news! Didn’t Father instruct me to return south as soon as Third Sister’s wedding was over? I’ve been in the capital for two months. If we’re lucky and my wife happens to become pregnant—hehe—then I won’t be at home, so naturally I’ll have to entrust the two of them to Mother’s care!”

Meng Shi had assumed that even if he brought up this matter, he would at least be tactful, lowering his voice and humbly pleading with her.

She had never expected him to begin with such a forceful demand.

His words nearly made her choke with anger. A single thought leaped immediately into her mind—

What kind of biological son was this?

He was nothing but a debt collector in human form.