Laying Plans against the Enemy

Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Laying Plans against the Enemy

Zhu Touyuan was about to stand up and go inside when he heard Qinglian's voice in his ear.

"Miss, in a quarter of an hour Miss Zhan Qingqing will come to catch the adulterers. This is the Leisurely Powder she asked me to administer to you. Miss Zhan Lan, you have been so good to me, I cannot do this!"

Qinglian casually threw a packet of medicinal powder out of the window.

"It's too dangerous here, let's go!" Zhan Lan pulled Qinglian by the hand and kicked open the door to leave.

Zhu Touyuan, looking at their fleeing backs, gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it, I'll seek revenge against the General Mansion's adopted daughter another day. Miss Zhan Qingqing will be here shortly."

"Underestimating me? Do you think a quarter of an hour is enough for me?" Zhu Touyuan adjusted his trousers and made an indecent gesture.

Two servants awkwardly chuckled along, "Yes, master, you are as invulnerable as Vajra!"

Zhu Touyuan was quite smug about it, licked his gums with his tongue, "That woman Zhan Qingqing, since she looks down upon me, I'll show her how formidable I am today!"

He glanced at the powder on the ground, picked it up with a smirk, and entered the dilapidated temple.

A quarter of an hour later, Qinglian, carrying a lantern, waited for Zhan Qingqing, and together they arrived at the entrance of the dilapidated temple.

"Miss, Mr. Wang is waiting for you inside, I won't go in," Qinglian bowed and said.

"Go on, wait for me further away." Seeing the light inside the dilapidated temple, Zhan Qingqing shyly smiled. Mr. Wang Qingchen, whom she had been longing for, had actually arranged to meet her here.

She had previously sent Qinglian to deliver a note secretly to Mr. Wang, never expecting him to reciprocate her feelings.

Zhan Qingqing, overwhelmed with happiness, clutched the flute in her hand, which Mr. Wang had sent through Qinglian. She treasured it like a precious gift.

Anyway, Zhu Touyuan and Zhan Lan already had an affair, she had witnesses, and their sordid affair could be discussed tomorrow morning!

Zhan Qingqing stood alone in the pitch-dark yard when suddenly she felt a cold snake climbing up her back, causing her to bristle with dread.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands covered her mouth, and strong arms dragged her into the temple, causing the flute in Zhan Qingqing's hand to fall to the ground.

Two men held her arms down, laying her on a pile of straw.

Upon closer inspection, she saw a man with a fat face, couperose nose, small eyes, and a pimply complexion mounting her, as he ripped open her outer clothing, instantly revealing her pink bellyband.

The man leered at Zhan Qingqing, who had a beautiful and fair face, a pair of enticing phoenix eyes, and a white dress that accentuated her figure.

"What are you doing, I'm General Zhan's daughter!" Zhan Qingqing's face turned pale with fear, and she felt extremely disgusted by the man's face under the candlelight.

Slap! Slap!

Two heavy slaps landed on Zhan Qingqing's face, and Mr. Zhu shouted furiously, "I'm your man!"

Zhu Touyuan had nowhere to vent his anger from the punch he received from Zhan Lan, and now that Zhan Qingqing was under him, he was eager to take it out on her.

Zhan Qingqing's cheeks hurt from the slap, and it was at this moment she realized Qinglian that wench had betrayed her, conspiring with that vile woman Zhan Lan to deceive her!

Originally, she could have exposed them in an adultery trap tomorrow morning, but she had not expected that she would be the prey!

Zhan Qingqing's eyes shifted as she spoke flatteringly, "Mr. Zhu, our marriage is already arranged, I will be yours next month, why rush for a moment?"

Zhu Touyuan snorted coldly, "Since we are to be married sooner or later, let's consummate the marriage tonight!"

Mr. Zhu's hand roamed lecherously over Zhan Qingqing's body.

Zhan Qingqing screamed, "No, if you continue, I'll ask my father to call off the engagement!"

Zhu Touyuan punched Zhan Qingqing in the face, "Bitch, are you thinking of saving yourself for Mr. Wang? I'll show you who's more formidable between me and Mr. Wang!"

Zhan Qingqing screamed in pain as Zhu Touyuan pinched her cheek and poured the entire packet of Leisurely Powder into her mouth.

"Aah!" Zhan Qingqing knew all too well what that powder was, as she had personally used the same drug on Zhan Lan.

However, she had given Zhan Lan a small dose so that Zhan Lan would be fully aware of the insult done to her.

But now, it was an entire packet!

Tears mixed with blood from her lips streamed down as Zhan Qingqing shrieked manically.

"Ah, don't, get away! I beg you, don't touch me..."

However, the temple was deserted, with no one to come to her rescue.

The woman's screams, accompanied by indescribable noises, emanated from within the room.

Zhan Lan coldly picked up the flute from the ground and handed Qinglian a dark cyan dress.

Qinglian nodded and said, "Miss, rest assured!"

...

The next day, early in the morning, the sunlight poured through the window onto Zhan Lan's face.

She sat in front of the bronze mirror and said, "Xiao Tao, help me dress up and take out the purple gauze dress with the moon pattern."

Xiao Tao was a maid serving Lady Li. Since Lady Li had gone to Tianlong Temple to offer incense these past two days, Xiao Tao had stayed behind.

Xiao Tao looked at Zhan Lan with surprised eyes, "Miss, you're finally dressing up, the rouge and powder Madam gave you can finally come into play!"

Zhan Lan simply smiled without a word. She dressed up not for anyone else to see but to please herself.

However, today's attire also served some purpose!

...

Meanwhile, in the front courtyard of the General Mansion, a gentle and fragile girl named Zhan Xuerou, wearing a light pink Shu brocade long skirt and her black hair lightly tied with a butterfly tassel, her skin fairer than snow, meticulously dressed up and boarded a carriage, leaving the General Mansion.

A quarter of an hour later, supported by two maids, she slowly pushed open the door of an abandoned temple.

"Oh my god!" Zhan Xuerou saw the scene before her and withdrew from the temple.

Maid Chunhua peeked inside and also covered her eyes.

"Miss... Miss, is that woman Miss Zhan Lan?" Chunhua stuttered.

There was a woman lying in a pile of straw inside the room, her body covered with abused marks.

The dark cyan dress was torn into pieces, and the wounds on her legs were even more visible; her body was still breathing in fits and starts, seemingly exhausted from torment, and had fallen into a deep sleep.

That dress was Zhan Lan's favorite color, just like her, it appeared lifeless, utterly unbecoming of a young lady.

Zhan Xuerou was certain: It must be her!

"Quickly go back to the mansion and inform Mother and Aunt Ji Yue!" Zhan Xuerou said to another maid, Qiuyue, who was standing behind her. Aunt Ji Yue always had a quick tongue—she'd surely spread this incident far and wide.

Qiuyue hurriedly left in the mansion's carriage.

Zhan Xuerou heard from Zhan Lan's maid Qinglian this morning that Zhan Lan had not returned all night; that's how she knew Zhan Lan might be having a secret rendezvous in the temple.

She truly didn't expect to find her defiled so horribly in the temple.

Zhan Xuerou was to attend the Book Forest Conference at noon. Many noble ladies and princes would be there.

But none of that was as satisfying as seeing Zhan Lan humiliated.

After she's done watching this fine spectacle here, there's still time to go to the Book Forest Conference. With her literary talent, she was sure to overshadow all the other noble ladies.

A hint of ruthless determination appeared in Zhan Xuerou's eyes, one that was hard to detect. This foster sister of hers, the Old General Zhan liked her very much.

She was frail and not suited for martial arts, yet she never expected the Old General to be so biased as to secretly teach Zhan Lan martial skills!

Furthermore, her father and mother were even more affectionate towards Zhan Lan!

Why? Why should a foster daughter like Zhan Lan receive such favoritism?

Wasn't it just because Zhan Lan's sixth-rank bodyguard father saved her father's life?

That lowly Zhan Lan is also worthy of calling Old General Zhan 'Grandfather,' just like her, the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion!

In Zhan Xuerou's heart, this was an enormous humiliation of her life!

She speculated with suspicion: Wasn't that lowly maid Zhan Lan skilled in some hand-to-hand combat?

Then why was she still defiled? It seemed her martial arts amounted to nothing more than a mere trifle!

Zhan Xuerou laughed lightly, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. She truly deserves it!

In a short while, she would witness Zhan Lan's agonizing despair!

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