Framing
Framing
Xiao Qing bowed before Wei Liuying. "Miss, I truly didn't do anything! This servant is wronged."
"I know."
"Then, Miss…."
"But even if I try to investigate it, all evidence will point to you," Wei Liuying said quietly.
Xiao Qing was stunned. "How… how can it be…?"
Wei Liuying didn't elaborate anything as she looked back at Xiao Qing. She knew that Xiao Qing would always sneak to the kitchen early in the morning to sneak some meat buns for her after her punishment's day. At that time, the room would be empty and there would be no other servant who could testify for her.
As long as Wei Xiao Hua prepared some servants who could testify that Xiao Qing was seen in Wei Xiao Hua's quarter, she would be deemed guilty. There was no way out.
This was a plan that was carefully tailored to trap her.
'Ah, First Sister, your hatred sure run deep.'
Wei Liuying sighed and rubbed her temple. She was only acting in accordance to what her mother and second brother wanted in order to be able to survive. But now, she had made Wei Xiao Hua her biggest enemy.
At this time, a servant rushed in. "Third Miss, Madam Feng is here."
Turning her head to the front door, Wei Liuying could see her mother stood there. She bowed in custom and called out, "Mother."
Feng Chun was looking at Wei Liuying without any trace of warmth in her eyes. "Leave us alone."
"Yes, Madam."
Wei Liuying also beckoned for both Xiao Qing and Xiao Yu to leave. Xiao Qing passed a look of worry to her miss, but she still scurried away while wiping her tears. She felt that it was her failure as a servant that pulled her Miss to this incident.
"You're only making things difficult for me, Liuying."
"I'm sorry, Mother."
Feng Chun snorted and walked to the nearest chair with a fan on her hand. Her long brocade dress nearly swept the ground as she walked with unhurried pace. "I'm sure you're smart enough to know that it's the best deal Wei Hong will ever make for you. Don't try to overstep your bounds and aim for more."
Or in other words, know your place.
It was the most common phrase that Wei Liuying had heard in her entire life. Her mother always told her that as long as she knew her place and did what she was supposed to do, her life would be easy.
Easy?
It has never been easy for Wei Liuying in her entire life. She had to constantly scheme and prepared a way out for herself. Unfortunately, she was too busy during the time she acted as a boy. It made her overlook the fact that Wei Xiao Hua could possibly make her move at that very time.
The result was obvious. She fell into a direct trap because of a person who cared for her.
"Why don't you interfere, Mother?"
"What? If you're talking about your marriage, there's no need for me to interfere. Official Mu is rich and if you get married to him, you'll be able to live a life without worry. As for this incident, who would care for a servant like that? She's nothing more than a lowly servant whose life is of no importance."
No importance…
Wei Liuying could never agree with what her mother said. She felt that their lives were also important to her. After all, they have served her ever since she was young and stayed by her side.
Feng Chun passed a look at Wei Liuying. "You're being swayed by feelings. Don't you realize that without caring for anyone, you'll be in much better position?"
"And be like you, Mother?"
Unlike Wei Liuying, Feng Chun could easily dispose her servants whenever it was needed. Even those who had served her for a long time was used by her in order to gain the affection from Wei Hong. It was as if the servants were nothing more but tools in her eyes that she could use freely to achieve her goal.
"Of course," Feng Chun replied with a laugh. "How do you think I can get married to Wei Hong with my Feng Family's condition if not for my quick wittedness?"
It was more like ruthlessness.
However, Wei Liuying didn't say it out loudly. She was only looking at her mother with indifference in her eyes. After interacting with her mother for a long time, she knew that Feng Chun was not that smart, but she was also not stupid. What she could do the best was using the people around her to get what she wanted properly.
"So, Mother will only watch?"
"Do you need me to answer bluntly?" Feng Chun asked back. "I'm sure you're smart enough to understand what I want."
"Yes," Wei Liuying replied.
Feng Chun stood up and patted her dress lightly. "Clean up the mess and dispose that servant. I'm sure you know what you should do now that you have offended Wei Xiao Hua."
And why I offend her in the first place?
Wei Liuying looked at her mother. "In that case, let me borrow a carriage."
"Carriage? You'll surely use one when you head to the academy." Feng Chun furrowed her eyebrows in displease.
"I need a different one, Mother."
"Why?"
Wei Liuying looked back at her mother, who was staring back at her with suspiciousness. "To clean up the mess that I have created. I'll make sure that there's nothing wrong from this incident, Mother."
Feng Chun looked at her daughter. Frown was apparent on her forehead as she disliked having to use her authority within the residence for her useless daughter. She waved her hand. "In that case, I'll prepare one. But when Wei Hong returns, I'll not help you."
"It's enough, Mother."
"Good."
Wei Liuying watched as her Mother disappeared before she walked to her own room. Xiao Qing and Xiao Yu were still there, looking at her with complicated expression. It was hard to say what was their feeling right now.
"Help me prepare myself."
"Yes, Miss."
Within a few breaths of time, Wei Liuying took a short bath and changed her clothes. She walked to her room and crouched down near her table. Her hands moved below the table as a knife appeared. She bought this with Manager Xin's help a long time ago for emergency use.
Now, she no longer felt even a little bit safe in the residence.
"Miss, the carriage is ready," Xiao Yu reported from outside.
"Wait. Xiao Qing, pack your belongings."
"Miss!" Xiao Qing was stunned and kowtowed before Wei Liuying. Her body was trembling. "I'm sorry! I… this servant didn't intend to…"
"I know."
"Miss…I don't want to leave…"
Wei Liuying also didn't want Xiao Qing to leave. Originally, the plan was to escape along with Xiao Qing when the time was ripe. But now, it would be completely impossible. She had to punish Xiao Qing one way or another to make sure that Wei Xiao Hua would be satisfied before doing anything else.
So, her plan had to change immediately.
"Pack your belongings, Xiao Qing."
Xiao Qing was startled with Wei Liuying's tone. This was the first time Wei Liuying was so harsh in her order and didn't give them any leeway to refute. Slowly, she stood up and wiped her tears before moving to her room in order to pack her belongings.
Xiao Yu was still standing by the door. She looked at Wei Liuying with traces of confusion. "Miss, this is…"
"Stay outside and guard the door."
"Yes, Miss."
Wei Liuying didn't need to turn around to know that Xiao Yu had closed the door and waited carefully. She slipped the dagger with a strap to her hand. Afterwards, she picked up a brush and a bamboo slip before she wrote several words on the surface. She put the bamboo slip under her sleeve and put the brush away.
Because she always copied the books and made summary for her brother, the servants wouldn't think it was weird for her to have the brush and ink ready. However, Wei Liuying dabbed the brush on top of the cloth that she frequently used to wipe the ink away. She couldn't let them find out that she was writing before she left.
Not long afterwards, Xiao Qing returned. She was carrying a bundle on her back as she looked at her Miss with her big and round eyes. "Miss."
"We should go."
Wei Liuying passed by Xiao Qing and passed the bamboo slip. Xiao Qing tucked it away inside her sleeve and followed after Wei Liuying with troubled expression. It looked as if she was already resigned to her fate.
Only Xiao Yu was still looking at them with some questions within her eyes. The three of them were good actors because they had learned ever since they were young how to mask their real thoughts. She was wondering whether Wei Liuying was acting or she had truly been driven to the corner with this scheme?
"Miss, where do you want to go?"
Wei Liuying wore a veil as she walked out. She glanced to the driver and spat out two words, "Hei Market."
"Right away, Miss."