Chapter 311

Chapter 311: Rescuing the Beauty In the manor, Nanny Qiu had just woken up. She had been knocked unconscious. Upon learning that her mistress had been abducted, she was so panicked she could barely speak. "This servant saw that the mistress was about to fall asleep, so I thought to fetch a cloak. But just as I returned, I was struck from behind." Cui Zeyu's brows were tightly furrowed. He had already sent people to search. Lady Wu was even more frantic. This was her estate—if anything happened to Cui Lingrong, it would be her responsibility. At the back wall of the courtyard, there were clear traces of someone climbing over. Cui Zeyu told the women to stay put in the manor and not wander about, then he led Song Mingxuan and several others in pursuit. This matter could not be publicized. If word got out that she had been taken by bandits, his sister's reputation would be utterly ruined. Cui Zeyu followed the trail all the way into the mountain forest. Up ahead, the path forked in two directions. He and Song Mingxuan each led a group in one direction. "Remember, if you find any trace, don't act rashly. Observe carefully before making a move. Bandits kill without blinking an eye—be sure to watch your own safety." After saying this, Cui Zeyu rode off in the other direction. Were these ordinary bandits? Cui Zeyu didn't think so. The estate was near Bianjing. What bandit would be so bold as to abduct someone in this vicinity? This had to be premeditated. Then who could it be? Zhao Susu, or Song Shulan? Cui Zeyu's brows knitted tightly, but he had no time to ponder further. He had to hurry—if anything happened to his sister... No, his sister would definitely be fine. About half an hour later, Cui Zeyu noticed traces of someone passing through the underbrush nearby. He followed the trail upward and, from a distance, spotted a dilapidated temple. There was a lookout standing at the temple's entrance. Just as Cui Zeyu was about to approach stealthily, someone suddenly called his name. "Cui Zeyu—no, wait, you're Lu Zeyu now." A person emerged from the temple. Cui Zeyu looked closely—it was none other than Madam Qin! He stood up from behind the bushes. "It's you?" "Who else did you think it would be? County Princess Rongjia? Or someone from the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion?" Madam Qin was so thin her cheeks were sunken, with dark circles under her eyes. "It's not easy to get a chance to see you again." "What do you want?" Cui Zeyu demanded. Seeing Cui Zeyu's anxiety, Madam Qin smiled with satisfaction. "Don't be impatient. There's another group that hasn't arrived yet." Cui Zeyu frowned deeply and turned his head. He heard the neighing of horses from the foot of the mountain. As he was pondering, he was shocked to see Wu Hui being carried up, bound. All the servants from the estate had been sent out to search for Cui Lingrong, which gave Madam Qin's people the opportunity to abduct Wu Hui. Wu Hui was brought before Madam Qin, who grabbed her chin and examined her carefully for a moment before saying with dissatisfaction, "That old bastard Lu Zhong actually found you such a good match. What a pity, Lady Wu—you shouldn't have married Cui Zeyu. If you hadn't, today's events wouldn't have happened." Wu Hui's mouth was gagged. She stared wide-eyed at Madam Qin, her back completely soaked with sweat. At that moment, Cui Lingrong was also pushed out. Likewise, Cui Lingrong's hands and feet were bound, and she couldn't speak—she could only shake her head at Cui Zeyu with muffled cries. "Cui Zeyu, these two women—one is Lady Cui who raised you, and the other is your new bride. Today I'll give you a choice: between the two of them, one must die right now. You pick which one." Madam Qin looked at Cui Zeyu with relish. She had waited too long for this day. Ever since she was sent to the old residence, she had racked her brains but never found a chance to return to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. She knew her life was over. But how could she accept that? She couldn't. She wanted Cui Zeyu dead. She wanted Lu Zhong to suffer the same fate as her—to bury a child and live in pain for the rest of his days. So she had meticulously planned, waiting a long time for this opportunity. "Madam Qin, if you release them, I might spare your life." Cui Zeyu clenched his fists so hard he nearly ground his teeth to pieces. But Madam Qin laughed heartily. "Cui Zeyu, what's the point of living like a coward? Better off dead! Let me tell you the truth—I set this trap today with no intention of leaving alive. You're going to die, and before that, one of these two will die first." With that, Madam Qin suddenly produced a dagger and stabbed it into Cui Lingrong's thigh. One strike, and blood flowed instantly. Cui Lingrong collapsed to the ground, her scalp tingling with pain. "You see? Every moment you dawdle, I'll stab one of them." Madam Qin laughed with great delight. She had longed for this day for far, far too long. "Or perhaps... you'd rather take their punishment?" Madam Qin glared viciously at Cui Zeyu. She wished she could tear him limb from limb. At this moment, looking at him, she wanted nothing more than to torment him—to exact revenge for all the suffering she had endured. Every day and every night in the old residence, she had thought about how to kill Cui Zeyu. But Cui Zeyu left early and returned late; her people could never get close to him. Those were her last resources in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, and she couldn't risk them recklessly. When Cui Zeyu got married, she grew frantic. Her son was dead—how could Cui Zeyu marry and have children? And to ally with the Wu family at that? Madam Qin couldn't sleep at night. She thought day and night, plotting her revenge against Cui Zeyu. Seeing Cui Zeyu's agony, Madam Qin felt immense satisfaction. "Haha, Cui Zeyu, you never expected this, did you? That you'd one day fall victim to my schemes!" Indeed, Cui Zeyu hadn't anticipated that Madam Qin would have such a trick up her sleeve. He said calmly, "The one you want to take revenge on is me. Let them go, and I'll come over for you to do as you please!" Wu Hui was shaking her head, while Cui Lingrong lay on the ground, gasping for breath. Cui Zeyu raised both hands and walked toward Madam Qin. "Fine then, use the dagger and stab yourself twice first, so I can have some fun!" Madam Qin tossed the dagger aside. "If you don't give me my pleasure, you know what I'll do—I'll make these two women suffer!" Madam Qin grew more excited by the moment. She didn't care about time; she only wanted to torment Cui Zeyu. Cui Zeyu picked up the dagger and, without hesitation, plunged it into his own thigh. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he took deep, ragged breaths. "Is... is this enough?" "No, no, no, that's not painful enough. Here's what you'll do—cut off your own finger. I want to see you in even more agony." Madam Qin said, grabbing Wu Hui by the neck. "Do as I say, now!" Cui Zeyu had no choice but to comply. Having lost a finger, blood continued to flow unabated, and his face instantly turned deathly pale. "What else do you want me to do?" Cui Zeyu walked step by step toward Madam Qin and her group. "I've done everything you asked. Now... now let them go!" "Haha, I didn't think you'd actually care about them that much. But Cui Zeyu, I'll say what I said from the start—of these two, you can only choose one. Who will it be?" As she spoke, Madam Qin crouched down and grabbed Cui Lingrong by the collar. "Cui Lingrong, look at the brother you raised. You can't die now—you have to watch him make his choice. Do you think he'll choose you, or his wife?" The cloth gag in Cui Lingrong's mouth was removed, and fresh air rushed into her lungs, clearing her mind somewhat. "Madam Qin, you won't succeed. No matter how much revenge you exact, you're destined to fail. Everything you hold dear will abandon you!" Enraged, Madam Qin raised her hand and slapped Cui Lingrong across the face. But as Madam Qin leaned in, Cui Lingrong suddenly bit down hard on her ear. "Ah!" The piercing screams startled the birds and beasts throughout the mountain forest. Cui Lingrong clamped down with all her might, refusing to let go. Seizing the opportunity, Cui Zeyu charged forward and stabbed a dagger into the back of one of the servants, but was viciously kicked in return, tumbling backward several times. Wu Hui was frozen in terror, unable to move. Just as one of Madam Qin's men was about to strike Cui Lingrong, an arrow suddenly flew in from afar, piercing through his neck. Hot blood splattered everywhere, soaking Cui Lingrong's back and neck. She bit down with such force that she nearly broke her teeth before finally tearing off Madam Qin's ear. "Brother Cui!" Xie Yunting came sprinting over, drawing his bow and aiming at Madam Qin. The arrow struck her square in the chest. At the same time, he rushed to Cui Lingrong's side and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Sister Cui, are you alright?"