Chapter 96 – Using Their Own Tactics Against Them

“What are you planning to do?” Shen Nian finally spoke after a long silence.

“Obviously, I’m going to give them a taste of their own medicine,” Xia Tian said coldly.

“Do you still remember what that little maid looked like?” Shen Nian thought for a moment. “I’ll send someone to search for her right away.”

“I remember. I think it’s enough to just have someone shadow her for now. That maid used to work under that old woman who managed the garden. It’s only in the past few days that she’s been reassigned to serve here.”

Xia Tian had been inspecting different parts of the estate with Madam Liu these past few days. She had already familiarized herself with nearly everyone in the household. Even if she didn’t know all their names, she wouldn’t forget a face she’d seen.

“A mere maid wouldn’t try to harm me for no reason. Someone must be behind her,” Xia Tian analyzed. Then a sudden thought struck her, and she gasped. “Oh no, what if something’s already happened to her?”

She immediately looked up at Shen Nian, who had just arrived at the same realization. His expression darkened.

“Don’t panic yet. I’ll draw a sketch of her. Let’s send someone to find her first. If we’re lucky and Liu-shi hasn’t made a move yet, we might still be in time.”

Xia Tian steadied herself and took a piece of paper from the table. She picked up a stick of charcoal from the floor beside the brazier, sharpened it slightly with a knife, and quickly started sketching.

In just a few minutes, she had finished a simple portrait. She blew off the charcoal dust and handed it to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian gave it a glance, then passed it straight to Mu Chen. “Go find her first. Don’t alert anyone. If you do find her, keep her secured and don’t let her out of sight.”

“Yes.” Mu Chen accepted the drawing, tucked it into his coat, and left swiftly.

“Why don’t I take you to see a doctor tomorrow?” Shen Nian still felt uneasy. Even though Xia Tian had told him she hadn’t consumed anything from Liu-shi’s side, he wanted to be sure.

“I can’t tomorrow. It’s Shen Ning’s wedding day, and Liu-shi asked me to be there early.”

Seeing that Shen Nian still looked worried, Xia Tian offered him some comfort. “Don’t worry. I really didn’t eat anything she gave me. Besides, she can’t possibly try the same trick again so soon. She probably thinks she’s already succeeded, so she won’t bother with anything else for a while.”

Shen Nian knew Xia Tian was trying to ease his mind. But this kind of thing—just letting it slide—wasn’t in his nature.

He suddenly recalled what Xia Tian had said earlier about “using their own tactics,” and asked, “So what exactly is your plan for retaliation?”

“Hmph. She dared to give me a sterilization drug—well, I’ll return the favor. I still have the tea she drugged left.”

Xia Tian snorted. “Brother Shen don’t worry about it. I’m around Liu-shi every day now. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll take it. For now, just help me find that little maid. When the time is right, we’ll strike hard.”

“No. That’s too risky. What if you get caught?” Shen Nian was worried and didn’t want her to take that kind of risk.

“I won’t. Trust me,” Xia Tian said with certainty. “I won’t act unless I’m completely sure I won’t be exposed, okay?”

“Alright. Just promise you won’t act recklessly,” Shen Nian warned again.

“Mm, don’t worry.” Xia Tian smiled and squeezed his hand.

Shen Nian gently returned the gesture, finally feeling a little more at ease.

Earlier, when Mu Chen had come to him saying Xia Tian suspected there was something wrong with the tea and wanted him to have it tested, his heart had started racing.

He had considered many possibilities—but never expected Liu-shi would go so far as to use a sterilization drug. At the time, his whole body went cold.

Then, when he calmed down, he felt a bit of relief. Fortunately, Xia Tian had been cautious and hadn’t fallen for it. Still, this constant feeling of being schemed against was deeply unsettling. At that moment, he wished he could tear Liu-shi apart with his bare hands.

It was clear now—he needed to accelerate his investigation. That poisonous woman had to be dealt with as soon as possible.

While Shen Nian and Xia Tian were deep in thought about how to retaliate against Liu-shi, things on Liu-shi’s end seemed cheerful.

That afternoon, after receiving confirmation from Granny Qi that “everything went smoothly,” all the pent-up frustration in her heart instantly vanished. She was in an excellent mood, even teasing Shen Lan playfully.

“Mother, what’s made you so happy?” Shen Lan asked curiously.

Ever since her fourth brother had fallen seriously ill, her mother hadn’t smiled like this. Even when they tried to cheer her up, she only gave them perfunctory smiles—never anything like this genuine joy.

“Well, there is something good. I’ve found a good match for you. Once Shen Ning gets married tomorrow, I’ll send someone to sound out the other family,” Liu-shi said, using Shen Lan’s marriage as an excuse.

Shen Lan blushed at the news but felt sweet inside. Clinging to Liu-shi’s arm, she whined, “Mooother~”

“Alright, alright. I won’t say more. I’ll tell you when it’s all settled,” Liu-shi said with a knowing smile. “Where’s your fourth brother? I haven’t seen him all day.”

“I think he went out. I’m not sure if he’s back yet,” Shen Lan replied casually.

“That child—his body’s not fully recovered and he’s already running around again,” Liu-shi muttered in mild reproach.

“Mother, let’s not talk about him. It’s big sister’s wedding tomorrow! Let me wear the ruby jewelry set, please?” Shen Lan said, tugging on her mother’s arm.

“Sure, you can wear it tomorrow. Pair it with that pomegranate-red dress I had made for you last time. Our Lan’er will be the prettiest girl there,” Liu-shi said indulgently, tapping her daughter’s nose affectionately.

While the room was filled with warmth and laughter, things weren’t going so well on Mu Chen’s end.

By the time he found the little maid’s residence, she was already gone.

He searched nearby but couldn’t find her. Fearing the worst, he reluctantly made his way toward the garden’s side gate.

It was pure luck—just as he arrived near the gate, he saw two people carrying a large sack, preparing to exit. The old woman who managed the garden was standing there, ready to open the gate for them.

Mu Chen didn’t make a move. He followed them quietly from a distance.

Once they exited the gate, a carriage was waiting outside. The two men loaded the sack onto the carriage, got in, and drove off.

The carriage wasn’t moving particularly fast, so Mu Chen kept a steady distance behind them.

The city gates were still open. Once the carriage left the city, it picked up speed, and Mu Chen used his lightness skills to continue tailing it.

After about half an hour, the carriage stopped at a desolate graveyard. The two men carried the sack out and tossed it among the overgrown graves. One of them tried to open it to check, but the other stopped him.

“I say, let’s get this over with quickly. This place gives me the creeps. If Granny hadn’t paid us well, I would’ve dumped this thing ages ago.”

“But what if she’s not completely dead? Wouldn’t we be in trouble if she survives?” the other man said hesitantly.

“I checked—she wasn’t breathing at the time. Even if she isn’t fully dead, being left here overnight will finish her off. Who knows, maybe a wild animal will come by later.” The first man sounded impatient and urged the other to leave quickly.

It was late at night and the graveyard was unnerving.

The second man finally gave in. He figured the girl had been motionless for so long, it was unlikely she’d survived.

Without further delay, the two men quickly departed.

Mu Chen stayed hidden in the shadows until they were gone. Then he slowly emerged and made his way to the graveyard to investigate.