Chapter 254: The Unhinged Couple 14

Wang Cuihua felt a little relieved as she watched the maid leave. Then, another thought struck her:

‘No, just calling my son back isn’t enough. I have to quickly pack some silver and valuables. If the Wu Family really falls, the three of us need a way to survive!’

She hurried back to her courtyard and began rummaging through chests and cabinets, packing away gold, silver, and other valuables. She stuffed all the priciest jewelry, silver notes, and land deeds into a cloth bundle.

Just as she was about to leave, the door was suddenly pushed open. Ji Xiaosong stood in the doorway, holding a handful of melon seeds. She cracked one open as she watched Wang Cuihua with a grin.

“Well now, Aunt Wang, where are you off to?”

Ji Xiaosong’s tone was light and breezy, as if she were just making small talk, but her eyes held a hint of playful mockery.

Wang Cuihua jumped in fright, nearly dropping the bundle in her hands.

She feigned composure, forcing a smile. “Oh, Xiaosong, what are you doing here? I… I was just thinking of going to the temple to offer some incense and pray for the Wu Family.”

Ji Xiaosong finished her melon seed, casually tossed the shell onto the floor, and said with a grin,

“Offering incense, you say? Then what’s packed in that bundle? Incense and prayer money? Or perhaps… you’re planning to buy the entire temple, securing a little escape route for yourself while you’re at it?”

The color drained from Wang Cuihua’s face, and her tone grew sharp.

“What kind of nonsense is that? I am a mistress of the Wu Family! Why would I run away? You’re an outsider. What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?”

Ji Xiaosong, completely unruffled, cracked another melon seed and drawled,

“Now, now, Aunt Wang, don’t be in such a rush. I’m just concerned about you! Look, that bundle of yours is stuffed to the brim. If you were to accidentally trip on the road and spill all that gold and treasure everywhere, how embarrassing would that be? Besides, if you really did run off, and the General returned to find so many things missing, wouldn’t he just be hopping mad?”

Wang Cuihua was rendered speechless by Ji Xiaosong’s words, her face flushing crimson.

Humiliation turned to fury. She pointed a finger at Ji Xiaosong and snapped, “Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a village girl from the countryside. You think you’re fit to lecture me? Let me tell you, the affairs of the Wu Family are none of your business!”

Still grinning, Ji Xiaosong finished her last melon seed, dusted off her hands, and said languidly,

“Now, Aunt Wang, that’s where you’re wrong. I may be a village girl, but I’m also Wu Chufeng’s future wife. How could I not concern myself with the Wu Family’s affairs? Besides, that bundle is filled with the Wu Family’s assets. If I just stood by and watched you run away with them, wouldn’t I be doing the family a great disservice?”

Wang Cuihua trembled with rage, grinding her teeth. “You… You stop spouting nonsense! I have no intention of running away!”

Ji Xiaosong blinked, feigning surprise.

“Oh, my! You aren’t planning to run away, Aunt Wang? Then what’s in this bundle? Could it be… a donation for the temple? What a generous offering! However, I’ve heard the monks at the temple have been a bit crooked lately. If you go there with so much money, what will you do if they target you?”

Wang Cuihua was so enraged by Ji Xiaosong’s words that she nearly fainted. She snatched up the bundle and said resentfully,

“Fine, fine! I won’t go! I’d like to see just how long you all can hold out!”

Seeing that Wang Cuihua had given up on escaping, Ji Xiaosong said with a grin,

“Now that’s more like it, Aunt Wang! The Wu Family is in crisis. As a mistress of the house, how could you desert your post? Besides, if you really did run off, and the General returned to find so many things missing, wouldn’t he just be hopping mad?”

With that, Ji Xiaosong turned with a smile and beckoned to the butler standing nearby. “Butler,” she said in a light, cheerful tone, “could you come over here for a moment?”

The butler hurried forward and asked respectfully, “Miss Ji, what are your orders?”

Still grinning, Ji Xiaosong’s tone was as casual as if she were chatting about the weather.

“Aunt Wang just packed some things to take to the temple for prayers and offerings. However, I don’t think it’s very safe for her to hold onto them. If she were to lose them on the way, wouldn’t that be a waste of her heartfelt intentions? Why don’t you help inventory everything, move it all to the storeroom, and keep it under lock and key.”

The butler froze, glancing hesitantly from Wang Cuihua to Ji Xiaosong. He lowered his voice and said,

“This… This isn’t quite appropriate, is it? How can we simply move the mistress’s belongings?”

Ji Xiaosong blinked, her expression a mask of innocence.

“Oh, Butler, that’s where you’re wrong. Aren’t Aunt Wang’s things also the Wu Family’s things? Besides, Aunt Wang just said with her own mouth that she has no intention of running away and that this is all a donation for the temple. Our Wu Family is in a time of crisis. We can’t afford to be careless with our money, don’t you agree?”

The butler was left dumbfounded by her logic, momentarily at a loss for a rebuttal.

He glanced at Wang Cuihua. Her face was ashen, yet she remained silent, which only deepened his confusion.

Seeing the butler still hesitating, Ji Xiaosong grinned and discreetly formed a hand seal within her sleeve.

Wang Cuihua suddenly felt her body go rigid, as if bound by something unseen. She couldn’t move a muscle, nor could she utter a sound.

Panic surged through her. She tried to struggle, but discovered she had no control over her own body. All she could do was watch Ji Xiaosong and the butler with wide, helpless eyes.

Seeing the Spell had taken effect, Ji Xiaosong smiled at the butler and said,

“You see, Butler? Aunt Wang isn’t even objecting. Don’t hesitate any longer. Hurry up and inventory her things, then move them to the storeroom. Oh, and give me the keys to the storeroom as well. I’ll keep them safe for you so they don’t get lost.”

Seeing that Wang Cuihua truly had no objections, the butler nodded. “Very well, I’ll get right on it.”

With that, he stepped forward and began to inventory the contents of Wang Cuihua’s bundle.

Wang Cuihua could only watch, fuming and frantic, as her gold, silver, and valuables were taken away piece by piece. She couldn’t say a word, able only to glare in helpless rage.

Ji Xiaosong stood aside, watching the butler with a grin, and didn’t forget to add a helpful reminder.

“Do be thorough, Butler. Don’t miss anything. Aunt Wang wants to offer incense at the temple; we can’t disappoint her pious intentions.”

The butler nodded repeatedly. He worked quickly and efficiently, and once finished, he said to Ji Xiaosong, “Miss Ji, the inventory is complete. I’ll take these to the storeroom now.”

Ji Xiaosong nodded with a smile. “Excellent. Thank you for your hard work. By the way, what about the storeroom keys?”

‘The storeroom keys?’

The butler froze for a second.

“But…”

Ji Xiaosong laughed. “But what? Before General Wu left, he said that Wu Chufeng is temporarily in charge of the estate. I’m taking the keys to give to him, of course.”

The reasoning was perfectly sound. The butler took a string of keys from his waist, handed them to Ji Xiaosong, and said, “These are the keys to the storeroom. Please keep them safe.”

Ji Xiaosong accepted the keys with a grin. “Thank you, Butler. Rest assured, I will keep them very safe.”

The butler nodded and left the room.

Once the butler was gone, Ji Xiaosong ambled over to Wang Cuihua and said with a sweet smile,

“See, Aunt Wang? I’ve put everything in safekeeping for you, so you don’t need to worry. Once the Wu Family weathers this crisis, I’ll return it all to you. How does that sound?”

Wang Cuihua trembled with rage but was still unable to speak. She could only glare at Ji Xiaosong with pure venom in her eyes.

Still smiling sweetly, Ji Xiaosong reached out and gently patted Wang Cuihua’s shoulder.

“Don’t be so angry, Aunt Wang. I’m doing this for the good of the Wu Family. Don’t you worry. Once this all blows over, I’ll be sure to compensate you handsomely.”

With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Wang Cuihua frozen in place, so furious she could have coughed up blood.