“She’s a member of that shamanic tribe, and the poison that was used on my mother and me was something that only a member of that tribe could concoct! I’m sure that she was the one who poisoned my mother all those years ago!” Yun Ruoyan shouted, her face a mask of horror and pain.

“And so what?” Li Mo countered. “This isn’t an easy woman to deal with. If you rush in and try to interrogate her on the spot, she’ll simply deny the accusation—and if she doesn’t admit it, she definitely won’t give you the answers you’re looking for. Even if you threaten to kill her, she might not relent—and she’s a physician in her own right, so your intoxicating fog might not work on her.”

Yun Ruoyan knew that she couldn’t kill Qin Jianmei on the spot; many of the questions that still plagued her could only be resolved with answers from Qin Jianmei. However, she didn’t have a clue how to make her confess to her crimes.

“In that case, what would you suggest?”

Li Mo glanced at Yun Ruoyan, swept away the snow that had gathered on her hair, and enveloped her in his hooded robe. “Find her weak spot, then use that to make her speak.”

Yun Ruoyan couldn’t help remembering how Li Mo had gotten Physician Ceng to talk. Although it seemed like he was a cowardly man, he was willing to die if it meant that he could save his wife and children. His spirit, at least when it came to protecting his family, was so strong that he was able to resist the compulsion of the intoxicating fog as nothing more than a commoner without any shred of cultivation.

Li Mo’s threat of bringing his family here with him had been enough to get him to talk, even when Yun Ruoyan’s intoxicating fog couldn’t do the job.

Physician Ceng’s family was his weakness, so would Yun Ruoyu be Qin Jianmei’s weakness? After all, Yun Ruoyu was her own daughter, her only relative within the capital.

“Li Mo, I think I know what to do.”

The next day, Yun Ruoyan returned to the Yun manor. She first paid her respects to her father, then went to have a chat with her grandmother, before finally returning to her cottage. As she returned, Ling Lan excitedly ran out to greet her, telling her that her brother, Che Mingchen, had passed the imperial examination to be a court official. 

Because Yun Ruoyan had been away from the Yun manor for quite some time, Ling Lan hadn’t had a chance to share the good news with her. 

“This is truly good news.” Yun Ruoyan smiled, extending a hand to help Ling Lan up from her kneeling position. Apparently, Che Mingchen had accepted his assignment and would be starting in just a few days.

Furthermore, Che Mingchen had been assigned a position in the capital. Although it was currently no more than a minor role, there would be significant opportunity for advancement.

“This is all thanks to your help, Mistress! Without your grace, my family might have perished,” Ling Lan wept, her voice trembling. “Mistress, once more, I pledge my eternal allegiance to you!”

“You silly child.” Yun Ruoyan patted Xi Lan’s head, then instructed Peony to give her five hundred taels of silver. “Taking on the position of an official will require all sorts of small bribes. Take this money and hand it to your brother. Make sure he cherishes this opportunity and adapts to his circumstances! He can be just and forthright once he’s established a name for himself, but before then…”

Ling Lan gratefully accepted the gift on her brother’s behalf, adding it to a mental tally she might not be able to pay back even with her life. Then, Yun Ruoyan gave her a few days off to celebrate with her brother.

By the time she was finished dealing with all sorts of miscellaneous affairs, it was nearing noon. Yun Ruoyan had Xi Lan prepare a few dishes from the kitchen, then had Peony send for Yun Moxiao.

The two siblings gathered for lunch in Yun Ruoyan’s cozy rooms, dining at a table right next to a warm fireplace.

“Peony, my brother and I can handle things on our own now. You and Xi Lan should head inside to warm up,” Yun Ruoyan called out.

“Yes, Mistress!” Peony was just about to leave when Xi Lan asked, “Mistress, I’ve made some plans with Sister Xiao Lan to learn needlework and embroidery from her, and it’s almost time for our session. May I go?”

“Go, go.” Yun Ruoyan smiled as she waved a hand at her.

“Thank you, Mistress!” Xi Lan hopped out of the yard, and Peony returned to her own rooms, shaking her head.

Now that her servants had each been diverted, Yun Moxiao put down the pair of chopsticks in his hands and looked toward Yun Ruoyan. “Ruoyan, is there something you want to tell me?”

Yun Ruoyan recounted what she had seen last night in Qin Jianmei’s cottage.”

“Could she really have been the culprit?” Yun Moxiao seemed dazed by the revelation. “But why? What grudge does she have with Mother? She doesn’t seem like the type to be jealous…”

Yun Ruoyan and Yun Moxiao had actually been more suspicious of Madam An, but the culprit now seemed to be the far more innocuous Madam Qin.

“I don’t know the reason, so Li Mo and I were thinking of…” Yun Ruoyan leaned closer to Yun Moxiao, then whispered into his ear.

“Is this appropriate?” Yun Moxiao frowned. “I don’t want to harm anyone.”

“We’ll be careful not to hurt anyone,” Yun Ruoyan promised. “And we’ll hide our involvement from everyone.” She took a gulp of wine, then beamed at Yun Moxiao. “Brother, just wait for the truth to be revealed.”

“Mistress, Young Master, something’s wrong!” Xi Lan hurriedly rushed back from outside, yelling loudly as she did so.

“What’s the matter? Why are you so anxious?” Yun Ruoyan asked.

“The—The third miss…!” Xi Lan had rushed back so quickly that she was huffing and panting, unable to get a word out.

“What’s wrong with the third miss?” Peony had noticed the commotion and also headed outside.

“The third miss was kidnapped!”

“What? Kidnapped?!” Peony repeated, in shock. “Are you certain? Who would dare kidnap a young miss of the Yun household?”

“It’s true!” Xi Lan hurriedly continued. “Just as I arrived at Sister Xiao Lan’s rooms, ready to learn some patterning from her, a servant came by to report that Miss Ruoyu was kidnapped! The Yun matriarch was startled from her afternoon repose, and she’s gone to Master Yun to understand what happened.”

Yun Ruoyan and Yun Moxiao exchanged a glance from inside the room. 

The plan has begun.

“Brother, we should head out as well.”

By the time the two siblings walked to Yun Lan’s study, the Yun matriarch had already arrived. She sat at the head of the table, her mien severe. Madam Qin stood by her side, silently weeping.

“Father, my sister and I were having lunch in her cottage when we suddenly heard a servant claim that Ruoyu’s gone missing. What’s going on?” Yun Moxiao asked directly.

“Look at this.” Yun Lan handed Yun Moxiao a letter, which he opened for him and Yun Ruoyan to read. 

Official Yun, my wife and I have long heard rumors of your generosity. We would be very pleased to receive a donation of a high-grade spiritual pill and three mid-grade spiritual pills. For the moment, we’ve invited your daughter to dine with us. Master Yun, please personally bring these pills to the bakery at the foot of the Minghuang Mountain. The moment we ascertain your delivery shall be the moment your daughter is released into your care once more.

The Demonic Duo

“Yun Ruoyan really has been kidnapped!” Yun Moxiao exclaimed, before putting the letter back on the desk.

“Ruoyu frequently joins me for morning service, but because she’s been feeling rather unwell, I’ve had her rest instead. However, because I didn’t see her at all today, I was worried and went to her quarters to check up on her. The moment I entered her rooms, I discovered her servants drugged and lying on a futon, whereas Ruoyu herself was nowhere to be seen! This was the only thing I found on her bed.”

“Madam Qin, I’m sure there’s no need to worry. Whoever this demonic duo is, if they want these pills so badly, they surely wouldn’t harm Sister Ruoyu.” Yun Ruoyu walked to Madam Qin’s side and began consoling her as she carefully scrutinized her expression.

Qin Jianmei’s anxiety didn’t seem to be faked; as she had expected, Yun Ruoyu was the weak spot in her defenses.

“Master, who exactly is this so-called ‘Demonic Duo’? Will they hurt Yu’er?” Qin Jianmei then turned to Yun Lan. “They’ll let her go after we give them the pills, won’t they?”

“I’ve heard of this ‘Demonic Duo’ before,” Yun Lan replied, his face downcast. “They gained some notoriety for themselves after repeatedly striking at Yuelu Villa, but why did they suddenly start targeting us Yuns?” Yun Lan furrowed his brows as he murmured to himself.

“Father,” Yun Moxiao called out, breaking his train of thought. “Father, I don’t believe now is the time to try to discern their motives. It’s more important to save Ruoyu!”

“Right, we need to save Ruoyu.” Yun Lan turned to Qin Jianmei. “Don’t worry. This ‘Demonic Duo’ doesn’t have a history of excessive violence, and I’m sure Ruoyu’s still safe at the moment.”

“In that case, let’s not wait.” The Yun matriarch sat up straight. “Yun Lan, get the pills. Xiao’er, accompany your father to the Minghuang Mountain. Everyone else, retreat to your quarters and wait for further news.”

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