Chapter 52: Seduction

Chapter Title: 052 Seduction

Backyard, woodshed.

Wang Suzhi, who had been dragged here with her mouth gagged, immediately began to curse as soon as Xu Chunhua removed the gag. "Xu Chunhua, you really are involved with that little bald monk! Tell me, did you give him that crucial tea leaf ahead of time? You’re so cunning. So yesterday, when you pretended to join forces with me to get rid of him, it was all an act—you were actually working with him to eliminate me! Xu Chunhua, you’re wicked to the core!"

Xu Chunhua ignored her, signaling the servants to tie Wang Suzhi to a stool.

Refusing to cooperate, Wang Suzhi seized the moment and kicked at Xu Chunhua. "Xu Chunhua, let me go!" She was certain that only Xu Chunhua had touched the tea leaf besides herself, and it had never left her hand—so if something went wrong, it had to be Xu Chunhua.

Xu Chunhua calmly stepped back. Wang Suzhi missed, lost her balance, and toppled sideways onto the floor with a crash.

The servants moved to help her up, but Xu Chunhua waved them away. "Leave us."

Wang Suzhi grimaced in pain. As she looked up, Xu Chunhua crouched before her. "Sister-in-law, you’re still as foolish as ever."

"You’re the foolish one—your whole family is!" Wang Suzhi hated being called brainless more than anything.

Xu Chunhua regarded her with pity but didn’t retort.

Thinking she had intimidated Xu Chunhua, Wang Suzhi quickly adopted the tone of a senior and commanded, "Help me up, untie me, and let me out!"

The pity in Xu Chunhua’s eyes deepened as she rose and took a seat not far away. Her refusal to obey couldn’t have been clearer.

Wang Suzhi was furious. "Xu Chunhua, what are you doing! You’re the daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, yet you collude with outsiders to harm your own sister-in-law! I’ll report you to Mother! Hey, is anyone outside? I’m the eldest mistress—let me out! If anyone frees me, they won’t go unrewarded!"

Seeing Xu Chunhua wouldn’t untie her, Wang Suzhi screamed at the door, hoping to sway someone to her side.

But the woodshed door was shut tight; her cries were met with silence.

Xu Chunhua laughed indifferently. "Report me? Never mind whether you have evidence—do you really think you’ll see Mother again after being locked in here?"

Xu Chunhua sat by the only spot where the light filtered in through the door. The glow shone from behind, casting her face in shadow, so her smile, exposing her teeth, appeared even more ghastly.

Wang Suzhi’s face turned as pale as those teeth, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "What… what do you mean?"

Xu Chunhua didn’t answer. She drew a small paper packet from her bosom. Upon opening it, white powder was revealed.

A sudden chill ran over Wang Suzhi’s scalp. Even she wasn’t fool enough to think Xu Chunhua would carry flour at a time like this.

Xu Chunhua softly commanded, "Bring in the water."

The door opened and closed swiftly, and a cup of water was placed at the entrance.

At once, Wang Suzhi shuddered. She had screamed at the top of her lungs to no avail, but when Xu Chunhua spoke quietly, someone instantly obeyed. Clearly, everyone outside was already bribed—her situation was dire.

Half-reclining on the floor, Wang Suzhi desperately searched for a way to escape, while Xu Chunhua picked up the cup at the door.

She poured the powder in, swirled it, and turned to Wang Suzhi. "Yes, today’s scheme was plotted by both of us last night. But I never expected that little monk to escape. Believe it or not, I didn’t leak the tea leaf to him."

Wang Suzhi had no energy left to question the truth. Her entire focus was on the cup hovering inches from her face. In this moment, with such dialogue, even her instincts screamed that Xu Chunhua meant to kill her.

Wang Suzhi’s stance softened immediately. "I believe you, I do. Who else would I trust if not my sister-in-law? If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have come to you last night. I was just anxious and misunderstood you. You know I’m not clever, so don’t hold it against me."

Xu Chunhua burst out laughing. "Sister-in-law, it’s a bit late for wit now. Do you think saying that will spare you from drinking this water? Well, for old times’ sake, let me enlighten you before you die."

"The leaf wasn’t lost by you or me, but somehow the monk had one—and it was already brewed. What does that mean? It means, after we made tea but before disposing of the leaves, someone secretly took one. At that time, the monk was outside surrounded by people. Once he entered, he never left our watchful eyes, so he couldn’t have gotten the leaf unless someone gave it to him beforehand."

Someone? Ahead of time? Did it mean that while they were scheming against the monk, he was already plotting against them? Wang Suzhi, overwhelmed by this revelation, momentarily forgot the mortal threat before her. "Are you saying our trap today played right into his hands?"

Xu Chunhua smiled approvingly. "When trouble broke out in the back hall, we were supposed to rush in together. But just then, Mother sent someone to call me away—precisely at the moment the commotion began. Why? I only realize now—it must have been to separate us."

Wang Suzhi was still confused. "Why would Mother want to separate us?"

Xu Chunhua’s gaze darkened. "She must have sensed we were about to act, so she moved me away first, making you suspect me and lose your composure. When you saw the leaf, you immediately blamed me. For self-preservation, I had to strike first and push you forward."

Now, all the causes and effects became clear. Wang Suzhi stared wide-eyed, uncertain whether to be more shocked that Mother had anticipated their plot, or more impressed by Xu Chunhua’s ability to deduce everything in the brief walk from the mourning hall to the backyard.

She really was smarter than herself.

"So what’s our next move—" Wang Suzhi truly believed Xu Chunhua hadn’t betrayed her now and started to ask how they should fight back. But before she could finish, Xu Chunhua seized her jaw with one hand and forced the poisoned water down her throat.

The poison worked quickly. As her vision blurred, Wang Suzhi saw Xu Chunhua loosen her bindings and place the cup in her hand. "Sister-in-law, we both underestimated Mother. So, to regain her trust, you must make a sacrifice. Don’t worry—even if you’re gone, I’ll make sure the Zhao family doesn’t fall into other hands. I’ll manage it well. And your beloved son—I’ll raise him as my own. Thank you, sister-in-law."

With that, she turned to leave.

Wang Suzhi summoned all her strength to lunge forward and grasp Xu Chunhua’s trouser leg, her breath barely a whisper. "You… dare!" If she dared harm Xiaobao, Wang Suzhi would haunt her even in death.

Xu Chunhua paused and crouched back down. "Sister-in-law, you know I’m not as bold as you. I’m afraid Mother will turn on me. You’ve already been caught; why drag me down? After all, the Zhao family has only the old, the young, and the sick—who else can take over but me? Rest assured, until I bear a true Zhao heir, Xiaobao will be safe. Sister-in-law, please help me."

She didn’t need to pry Wang Suzhi’s fingers off; a slight pull and her trouser leg slipped free from Wang Suzhi’s powerless grasp.

Wang Suzhi finally closed her unwilling eyes. Xu Chunhua flung open the door, and as light flooded in, she called out mournfully, "Inform the old mistress: sister-in-law, ashamed of tarnishing the Zhao family’s name, has just taken her own life."

That night, another body was added to the mourning hall.

Madam Lin, unable to withstand the shock, fainted several times before Xu Chunhua persuaded her to rest in her room.

Late at night, the mourning hall was silent, save for Fang Rulai’s ceaseless chanting and Xu Chunhua, who kept vigil with a group of maids and matrons.

Xu Chunhua gave a meaningful glance, and the maids and matrons quietly left the hall, carefully closing the doors behind them.

"Master, you’ve been reciting scriptures all day—you must be tired. Would you like some water?" Xu Chunhua approached Fang Rulai with a warm, inviting smile, though her hands held no water.

Fang Rulai turned at her voice. Xu Chunhua boldly pulled open her mourning robe, revealing skin as smooth and pale as snow.

Fang Rulai stared intently. "Where’s the water?"

Xu Chunhua walked past the incense table, reached for the teapot, and poured its contents over her bare shoulder.

Replacing the teapot, she stepped to Fang Rulai’s side, where he sat on the meditation mat.

"Miss Xu—" Fang Rulai began.

"Shh," Xu Chunhua pressed a finger to his lips and pulled his hand to her shoulder. "Master, here’s the water. Do you want to drink?"

The monk, surely aided by someone in secret, had outwitted her and Wang Suzhi while they laid their trap. Why? What else but greed for the Zhao family!

She had guessed Fang Rulai had backers, and that Mother had prepared countermeasures, but never imagined Mother and Fang Rulai were allied at the deepest level. She simply thought the outsider monk coveted the Zhao family, seeking some advantage from them. Unable to conquer him, she would try to win him over. Not knowing how many were behind him, she dared not act rashly.

At such times, the oldest but ever-effective tactic—seduction—was the best approach.

See, the monk’s hand on her shoulder was already trembling with excitement.

"Miss Xu—" Fang Rulai tried to speak again.

"Master," Xu Chunhua interrupted coquettishly, "there’s no need for formality now. You can call me Chun Chun!"

As she spoke, she guided Fang Rulai’s hand down from her shoulder to her chest, but he suddenly withdrew.

Xu Chunhua was startled. "Master, you—?"

Fang Rulai, expressionless, pointed behind her.

Instinctively, Xu Chunhua turned—and was confronted by a blood-soaked face.

"Ah!" Xu Chunhua screamed, her eyes rolling back as she fainted.

Thank you to dear zengfengzhu and c Banxia/Like Smoke for the encouragement and flowers, mua~

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