Chapter 133: Luring the Prey into the Trap

As the sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, a look of unbridled joy instantly flooded Lady Wang’s face. This was an opportunity to prove her worth that simply could not be missed; to let it slip by would be an affront to reason itself.

Though she knew this move would likely cause Luo Kui to lose face, it was a hurdle she could easily overcome. She was ten parts certain that she could ensure Luo Kui held no resentment toward her, successfully shifting all his fury onto Mu Lan instead.

The old adage held true: the deeper the love, the sharper the hate.

She had long found Mu Lan an eyesore. The woman usually carried herself with such an air of superiority, as if she were a cut above the rest. She surely never dreamed in her wildest nightmares that a day would come when her fate would rest in Lady Wang’s hands—and with the most damning evidence imaginable, at that.

Lady Wang could already picture the scene: Luo Kui’s face twisted in uncontrollable rage once he learned the truth. When anyone is consumed by fury to the point of losing their reason, they tend to act with excessive violence, especially those who prize their own reputation above all else.

Luo Kui was precisely such a man. If he discovered that his favorite Ninth Lady had engaged in such shameful, illicit conduct, he would likely be driven to kill Mu Lan just to purge his own hatred and salvage a shred of his dignity.

And she, as the whistleblower, would not only be innocent of any wrongdoing but would also earn Luo Kui’s favor. After all, if not for her, who knew how much longer he would have continued to wear those "horns" on his head?

Thinking of this, Lady Wang grew impatient. Luo Kui was her golden goose, and because she had bungled the earlier affair involving Shen Yuqin, she could clearly sense his growing dissatisfaction over the past few days. If she did not use something else to mend this rift, she feared she would soon lose her value to him.

It was precisely for this reason that she had been working so tirelessly to dig up information on Shen Yuqin, offering strategies and counsel to Luo Kui. Though she hadn't proposed anything truly effective, it had been enough to temporarily appease him.

However, before she could implement her next plan, this matter regarding Mu Lan had cropped up, leaving her no choice but to push the Shen Yuqin affair to the back burner. Priorities were priorities; this new development was urgent, while the other could wait.

Come to think of it, it was actually Shen Yuqin who had inadvertently tipped her off. Though it clearly wasn't intentional, it struck her as strange in retrospect. How had that girl known? Regardless, looking at the certainty with which they had spoken earlier, it could not have been a groundless rumor or a fabrication; it must have been the truth, and they had simply stumbled upon it by chance.

As for the specific details, she had no way of knowing, and she certainly couldn't just knock on the neighbor's door to ask Shen Yuqin for clarification.

This matter was far too sensitive to risk further complications. Lady Wang didn't dwell on other possibilities; she considered her own movements to be discreet and believed it impossible for Shen Yuqin to know she had been secretly observing them, let alone that she had happened to overhear their casual conversation. Therefore, there was no question of being deceived.

Having resolved these thoughts, Lady Wang rushed toward Luo Kui’s residence without delay. If she arrived too late and Mu Lan returned home first, she would be left without concrete evidence, placing herself in a precarious position.

There was no doubt that between her and Mu Lan, Luo Kui would choose to believe Mu Lan. There was no question about that. She could even be counter-accused of slander. If that happened, she would truly be unable to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Therefore, without hard evidence, if she were to level this accusation, it would be a minor matter to offend Mu Lan, but a death sentence to provoke Luo Kui’s wrath. Only by having him catch them in the act—leaving the culprits with no room for denial—would she have the most direct and effective proof.

***

After Lady Wang’s figure vanished into the alley, Yi An and Shen Yuqin stepped out from the shadows. They had been lurking there to monitor her every move. The probability of her remaining unmoved had been low, but they had gambled and won, hadn't they?

"What do we do now?" Shen Yuqin asked.

"Nothing at all. We just watch," Yi An smiled. "The rest, Lady Wang will handle perfectly for us." They had done everything they could; now, all that remained was to let events unfold and leave the rest to fate. Success or failure now depended on a bit of luck.

"Oh." Shen Yuqin nodded slightly, feeling an immediate sense of relief. Performing this "hell-difficulty" act for the first time had kept her nerves stretched to the breaking point; she had been constantly worried about making a mistake due to a moment of panic. Fortunately, she had adjusted her state well and performed even better than expected.

"Why don't we wait outside the Dianzhuang Pavilion? The show is about to begin. It would be a pity to miss it," Yi An said, his expression betraying a restless excitement. How could the lead architect of this drama miss the performance?

Shen Yuqin hesitated slightly. "Is that wise? If Lady Wang discovers our presence, she might guess something."

"It doesn't matter," Yi An waved a hand, dismissing her concerns. "If things go as smoothly as I expect, Lady Wang might not live to see tomorrow's sun. A dead person cannot leak information."

"Very well, then." Shen Yuqin pondered for a moment before slowly nodding.

***

As for Lady Wang, she traveled without pause until she reached Luo Kui’s residence, where she was soon granted an audience.

When Luo Kui saw her, a flash of excitement lit up his face. "Is there any progress on the matter regarding Shen Yuqin?" he asked impatiently. "And as for that brat, how do you intend to deal with him?"

"Lord Luo, please, don't be so hasty. I have come for a different reason today, not for the matter concerning Shen Yuqin," Lady Wang replied with a bitter smile. Her resentment toward Shen Yuqin deepened; that little girl had chosen the most inconvenient moment to be a thorn in her side. Once the Mu Lan affair was settled, she would have time to deal with her.

Luo Kui’s face darkened instantly. "If there are no results, why are you here? Are you here to toy with me?"

"No, no, my Lord, you misunderstand. I have come for an entirely different matter," Lady Wang explained hurriedly.