Chapter Seventy-Three: Forced Relocation

The urgent knocking at the door rang out amidst the persistent spring rain, stirring a restless anxiety that was hard to describe.

Lu Ying frowned and walked quickly to the entry. When she opened the door, she found several members of her maternal family, the Ping clan, standing outside. At the forefront was her grandmother, Madam Ping, followed by her third uncle and aunt, her fourth aunt, and others. Off to the right stood Madam Huang.

Behind them trailed a dozen servants and maids, umbrellas raised against the wind-blown rain, which still managed to soak their outer garments and shoes, leaving these usually domineering figures of Hanyang City looking somewhat bedraggled. Not far away, several ox carts and donkey carts were parked.

They were here!

Lu Ying’s pupils contracted instinctively, a silent alarm ringing in her mind. Yet in the next moment, she relaxed.

No one noticed the shift in her expression. Madam Ping, supported by a maid, entered, brushing past Lu Ying as she surveyed the modest house, frowning as she spoke, “So you’re pleased with this little room? Content to live here? You won’t even visit your maternal family anymore?” She turned to Lu Ying, gave her a sharp look, and then dismissed her, “Go, pack up everything in the house. Remember, the books are precious—if anything is lost, you’ll answer for it with your lives!”

At her command, the servants responded in unison and rushed into the room.

Lu Ying’s face darkened. Staring coldly at Madam Ping, she asked, “May I ask, Madam, what does this mean? Are you here to search my house?”

Her words triggered a bout of coughing from Madam Ping. With her maids patting her back, she finally caught her breath. Turning toward Lu Ying, her gaze held both disappointment and a sigh, “Ah Ying, is this how your mother taught you?”

Before Lu Ying could reply, Madam Huang stepped forward with a forced smile, “Ah Ying, you’ve misunderstood your grandmother. She’s only worried that you and your brother are too lonely here. Look at you, a young girl going in and out alone, no one to guard the door. What if some rascal comes along?”

Under Lu Ying’s cold, dark gaze, Madam Huang’s smile became increasingly strained. She discreetly wiped sweat from her palm and continued, “Your grandmother is concerned for you and your brother’s safety. She’s come to bring you both to the Ping estate.”

To the Ping estate—so that was their intention.

Lu Ying understood now. News of her meeting with the nobleman had leaked. The desperate Ping family had resolved to seize her, hoping to leverage her connection to climb higher. She was the last straw they could grasp.

To secure her completely, they no longer cared for subtlety or her feelings—they were determined to take her back, no matter what. Once inside the Ping estate, they had countless means to make the orphaned siblings entirely their own.

Having Madam Ping herself come was a gesture of respect, ensuring that any gossip would be in their favor.

Lu Ying sneered inwardly. So they still refused to give up!

Seeing the coldness on her face, Madam Ping felt a surge of unspeakable dislike. She forced down her resentment and spoke with feigned kindness, “Child, what’s that look for? Aren’t we your family? Isn’t it right for your family to bring you home to a better life?” She sighed, “Are you still holding a grudge over the broken engagement? I thought you’d gotten over it by now.”

As soon as Madam Ping finished, her third aunt chimed in, “Ah Ying, what’s wrong with you? Your grandmother herself has come to fetch you—do you plan to defy her?”

On the other side, her fourth aunt laughed, “Enough, enough, let’s not talk about unhappy things on such a fine day. Ah Ying, we came in haste because we wanted you to have a good life. A woman mustn’t be too stubborn or too fierce. If you push away your own family, even if you attain wealth, you won’t keep it.”

Three elders spoke to Lu Ying, each from a different angle, their words heavy with warning or gentle persuasion.

When their voices faded, Madam Huang took Lu Ying’s hand, speaking intimately, “Ah Ying, you’re standing here, not speaking or showing gratitude, and that’s not right. Your grandmother is here to bring you happiness. She’s always worried about you and your brother, afraid you’re suffering or being bullied outside.”

Seeing Lu Ying’s face still cold and unmoved, the third uncle stepped forward. He looked at her kindly, and said, “Ah Ying, about Ah Yun…”

Lu Ying lifted her head.

Meeting her gaze, he sighed, “Your aunt is just a woman, she can’t explain things well. The reason we’re taking you home is that this place truly isn’t safe. Your brother Ah Yun has been kidnapped!”

As her eyes narrowed, the third uncle continued gently, “Those who took your brother are notorious bandits. If they hadn’t sent someone to demand ransom, I wouldn’t have known, nor come to see you myself. Child, don’t panic—come back with me first, and we’ll discuss what to do.”

His tone was earnest, his eyes kind but tinged with admonishment for her defiance.

As soon as he finished, Madam Ping’s lips curled into a smile. The third and fourth aunts also smiled.

Madam Ping, after smiling, signaled a servant to carry out the third uncle’s plan: abduct Lu Yun immediately.

Lu Ying caught the exchange in a glance, and her heart warned her: he’s lying! Ah Yun was in danger. Her attitude had alerted them; from now on, they would likely keep Ah Yun under their control until she obeyed.

The third uncle’s story was clearly a spur-of-the-moment fabrication, but it was enough to spark real fury in Lu Ying.

She drew a deep breath, glanced at the servant heading toward the gate, then turned to the third uncle and said clearly, “Are you joking, Uncle? Ah Yun didn’t go to the academy today.”

At her words, the servant paused, turning to Madam Ping.

Lu Ying kept her gaze on the third uncle, continuing, “Ah Yun went to the residence of Wang, the Imperial Scholar. You may not know, but Wang is friends with our neighbor, Yin, and they’ve both tutored Ah Yun. Before he left, Ah Yun told me he’d dine at the Wang residence before returning home.”

She added, “Uncle, you should know the Wang family is highly respected. How would bandits dare approach such a household?”

The Wang and Yin families had only recently moved to Hanyang, and while they kept a low profile, even the Ping clan knew they were people of influence.

The third uncle was stunned.

He hadn’t expected his seemingly flawless excuse to unravel so quickly. Yet he knew he had to bluff his way through. He frowned, spun around, and slapped a servant hard, knocking him to the ground. He shouted, “What’s going on? Didn’t you say Ah Yun was kidnapped? Explain yourself!”

The servant, bewildered and with a swollen cheek, was clearly resourceful. He quickly followed the uncle’s lead, “I’m innocent—I saw those people and Ah Yun’s belongings handed over. Maybe something changed; perhaps Ah Yun left for the Wang residence but went out for a spring outing?”

A convenient excuse indeed.

The third uncle’s eyes lit up, prepared to seize on this story, but Lu Ying suddenly asked, “His belongings? What kind of belongings?”

The servant hesitated, then his eyes darted, “It wasn’t me who recognized them—it was Ah Qing from the third branch.” Knowing Ah Qing had once been close to the siblings, he used her as a shield, then urged, “This is urgent, cousin, we can’t waste time here.”

At this prompt, the third aunt barked at the servants, “Why are you standing around? Can’t you see Madam is still in the rain? Hurry up!”

The servants moved faster, hauling the family’s furniture into the courtyard.

Watching her things dragged out, Lu Ying spoke softly, “That nobleman…”

At those four words, everyone’s eyes turned to her.

Lu Ying lowered her head, a touch of shyness and confusion in her voice, “He’s always had someone watching over me.” She paused, then added, “My brother, too.”

She tilted her head, looking at the third uncle with innocent perplexity, “Uncle, the nobleman said those things—how could my brother be kidnapped? Uncle, you’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

Once again, the servant at the gate halted.

Lu Ying quietly watched the third uncle as he grew increasingly flustered under her gaze.

If her words were true, everything they did today would reach the nobleman’s ears. She might be young and easily deceived, but the nobleman would recognize their extortion and schemes.

Suddenly, cold sweat soaked the third uncle’s back.

(To be continued)