Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The news of Manager Liu's punishment quickly spread throughout the Shen Residence. Liu was furious and ran to his father, crying and complaining, only to be reprimanded for his lack of discipline in raising his children and managing the household, leaving him embarrassed.
Shen Ling was both angry and frightened, hiding in her room for several days without daring to go out. The reputation of the mother and daughter had plummeted within the household, and the servants began to shift their loyalties, no longer treating them with the same reverence as before.
As for me, I was busy taking over the affairs of the estate and the shop. I promoted several honest and diligent managers and workers who had previously been suppressed, reorganized the accounts, and restructured the operations. I believed that it wouldn't be long before these businesses would thrive again.
But that was not enough. I wanted not only to reclaim the properties but also to ruin Shen Ling's reputation completely, extinguishing any ambitions she had for Consort Jing's position.
To bring down Shen Ling, the best method was to use Zhao Yan. I knew that Zhao Yan did not genuinely care for Shen Ling; he was more interested in using her. Her presence served as his eyes within the Shen Family and could also become a pawn against me in the future.
However, a man's possessiveness can be terrifying. If Zhao Yan were to discover that Shen Ling was not as "pure" as he imagined, perhaps even involved with other men, how would he react?
A plan slowly took shape in my mind. I needed a "blade," and I had already identified a suitable candidate—Zhou Han, the son of a Minister of Personnel.
Zhou Han was notorious for being a debauched playboy, indulging in lustful pursuits and abusing his father's power to bully others. In my previous life, he had once showered Shen Ling with attention but was rejected by her feigned modesty. Later, when Shen Ling became Prince Jing's consort, he fell into a period of despondency.
In this life, I could take advantage of his lingering feelings for Shen Ling. I instructed Qing Zhu to discreetly find out which taverns Zhou Han frequented and then anonymously sent him a letter.
The letter did not reveal my identity but subtly hinted at Shen Ling's "affection" for him, suggesting that she was not indifferent but merely restrained by her modesty as a woman and her engagement to Prince Jing. It also "casually" mentioned that Shen Ling had been feeling down lately and often visited Xiangguo Temple on the outskirts of the city to clear her mind.
I knew that with Zhou Han's temperament, receiving such a letter would make him restless with desire to "coincidentally" meet Shen Ling at Xiangguo Temple.
Sure enough, within three days, Qing Zhu returned with news that Zhou Han had visited Xiangguo Temple two days in a row and had coincidentally encountered Shen Ling while she was there alone to offer incense.
Shen Ling was already troubled by Manager Liu's situation and felt she had lost Zhao Yan's favor; she was in a state of uncertainty. Zhou Han's appearance and attentiveness might provide her with a false sense of comfort.
Next, all I needed to do was add fuel to the fire.
I took out some herbs I had purchased earlier and personally concocted a special incense. This incense had a subtle fragrance with mild aphrodisiac properties that could stir emotions; when used sparingly, it would go unnoticed but would have an amplified effect when mixed with alcohol.
I handed the incense to Qing Zhu: "Find a way to make this appear in Second Miss's incense or her usual cosmetics."
Qing Zhu's expression turned serious as she accepted the incense: "Rest assured, Miss. I know what to do."
A few days later came the annual Yulanpen Festival at Xiangguo Temple, which would attract many worshippers and be bustling with activity. I knew Shen Ling would definitely attend, and Zhou Han would not miss this opportunity either.
On the day of the Yulanpen Festival, I also went to Xiangguo Temple. However, instead of offering incense myself, I sat quietly in a teahouse on the outskirts of the temple grounds, waiting patiently.
After about half an hour, I saw Zhou Han supporting a woman who appeared unsteady on her feet and flushed in complexion as they exited through a side door of Xiangguo Temple. Although she hid her face under a veil, I recognized her immediately—it was Shen Ling!
It seems my plan has succeeded. Zhou Han must have found an opportunity to get close to Shen Ling in the temple, perhaps aided by some wine and my specially crafted spices...
What happened next is obvious. Zhou Han helped Shen Ling into an inconspicuous carriage and quickly departed. I lifted my teacup and took a sip. The fish is hooked.
But that’s not enough. I need this matter to reach Zhao Yan's ears, and in the most humiliating way possible.
Upon returning home, I immediately instructed Qing Zhu to spread some rumors. The content of the rumors was simple: the son of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhou, seems to have recently found romance, often seen entering and leaving his residence with a mysterious woman. This woman is said to be graceful and generous, seemingly the daughter of a wealthy family.
Such tantalizing gossip spreads easily in the capital. Moreover, I specifically emphasized her "generosity," which naturally referred to the money that Liu and Shen Ling had embezzled before.
I believe that with Zhao Yan's extensive network in the capital, he will soon uncover the true identity of this "mysterious woman."
How will he react? The woman he considers his possession is actually mingling with another man behind his back, using money "borrowed" from him?
Zhao Yan is an extremely arrogant man with a strong sense of possessiveness. He can use Shen Ling, but he cannot tolerate her "betrayal," especially at such a critical moment when he is about to marry Shen Wei, the legitimate princess. This would be a tremendous humiliation for him.
Now, all I need to do is sit back and enjoy the show. I picked up a book from the table and casually flipped through its pages, a faint smile playing on my lips. Zhou Han's role as my pawn has proven to be quite effective.
Comment 0 Comment Count