High-class maid

"What is your leader's plan?" the Second Prince asked.

The man dared not speak. The Second Prince gave a signal to the people behind him, and the guards behind him picked up a basin of ice water and poured it on the thug.

The icy water clashed with his wounds, causing him excruciating pain. He felt as if his soul was about to leave his body and couldn't help but scream. The guard, suppressing his nausea, took off his shoes and stuffed them into his mouth.

Song Wenyang stepped forward and said, "You're quite loyal. Remember, your life is in our hands now. Whether you talk or not, we'll bring him back. This is your chance to redeem yourself."

"Hero, I'll talk, I'll talk!" The fat man couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first.

"Some time ago, someone found our boss and gave him three thousand taels of silver, instructing him to kidnap the Minister's eldest daughter on the last day of the Qixi Festival and then set fire to the courtyard where the women lived."

The Second Prince and Song Wenyang unconsciously clenched their fists. Damn it, how dare he scheme against my An'er.

"Has anyone said when we'll take action?" the Second Prince asked.

"They said we should act when we hear firecrackers at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM)," the skinny man answered before the fat man could.

"How did you know which courtyard was the young lady's? Aren't you afraid of arresting the wrong person?" Song Wenyang asked.

The two thugs exchanged a glance and said, "Well, Abbot Yin Kong of Lingshan Temple sent someone to give us the map."

"What?!" Song Wenyang and the Second Prince were truly shocked. They never expected that Yin Kong would be involved.

"Good sir, we've told you everything we know, please let us go." The fat man made a move to get up and kowtow to beg for mercy.

The Second Prince and Song Wenyang exchanged a glance, then turned and walked out.

The moment they stepped out, the guards behind them drew their knives and killed the two thugs.

"Brother Rong, how did this matter involve Abbot Yin Kong?" Song Wenyang asked, puzzled.

"I never imagined that old fellow was so cunning. Hasn't he embezzled enough silver during his years as abbot?" the Second Prince sneered.

"How about tonight?"

"It will proceed as planned."

"it is good!"

At 5 PM, in the servants' quarters of the female members of the Minister's household.

Shen Xing'er packed her bags absentmindedly. The deeper the night, the more frightened she became, afraid that the thugs might accidentally hurt her mother, afraid that the thugs might arrive at any time.

She only remembered reading in the book that the kidnappers abducted the young lady in her sleep on their last night at Lingshan Temple, when they were off guard.

At night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Shen Xing'er became increasingly restless and irritable listening to the cicadas chirping outside.

"This sound is so annoying, it's making me feel uneasy," Shen Xing'er muttered to herself.

It seemed as if the heavens heard her heartfelt words, for suddenly thunder and lightning struck, followed by rain.

Listening to the pattering rain, Shen Xing'er felt even more frightened. She remembered the ghost stories she had read before and couldn't fall asleep.

Just as the rain was getting heavier, the sound of firecrackers came from outside. They weren't too noisy in the thunder and lightning of the rainy night, making those who were asleep think they were dreaming.

Meanwhile, in the Sutra Repository of Lingshan Temple, Song Wenyang and the Second Prince, who were lying in ambush, perked up and smiled at each other.

"Old Song, your chance to make a name for yourself has come," the Second Prince joked.

Song Wenyang could not hide his excitement and nodded, saying, "Second Prince, please be careful as well."

Shen Xing'er sat up straight, thinking to herself: It's finally here.

She didn't have time to think too much; she dressed quickly and ran towards the young lady's courtyard.

As she ran, she saw several men in black rushing into the young lady's courtyard.

Shen Xing'er was so anxious she was about to cry. She was terrified that her mother would hear the noise and come to save the young lady, and she was also afraid that the villains would accidentally hurt her mother.

In the original story, the old lady's nanny was killed by a villain while trying to save the young lady, and she was terrified that the villain was her mother.

Shen Xing'er was no match for the black-clad men who knew martial arts, and she watched helplessly as they entered the young lady's room. But instead of the expected screams, she heard the sounds of fighting.

She looked up and saw that the young lady wasn't in the room, but rather a group of guards fighting with the men in black. Shen Xing'er quickly hid.

"Damn it, we've fallen for their trap!" the leader of the men in black said angrily.

"Big brother, should we retreat?"

"No, the boss has already taken that man's money. We can't explain ourselves without kidnapping the young lady. Come with me!"

The man in black didn't want to waste his energy fighting the guards, so he skillfully went to the old lady's room, intending to find the young lady.

Meanwhile, the masters of the Fashion Book Mansion were indeed all in the old lady's room. The second young lady was so frightened that she secretly started to cry, while the eldest young lady stayed by the old lady's side the whole time.

"Sheng'er, what's going on? How did you know someone would come to assassinate you tonight?" The old lady's eyes were like an abyss, staring intently at Xiao Luosheng.

Feeling guilty under her gaze, Xiao Luosheng only said, "Let's talk about it when we get back to the manor."

Shen Xing'er watched them enter the old lady's room. Just as she was about to go to her mother's room, she saw her mother at the door of the old lady's room.

Her mother and Danxue stood at the door, neither of them showing any fear of the thugs.

Wang said, "Who are you, and why are you in the old lady's room?"

The leader in black said, "Hmph, a weak woman dares to speak out of turn. Now get out of here, I only want your young lady."

Danxue took out a small knife from her bosom, which was inlaid with gemstones and was obviously a gift from an old lady. She said, "Our young lady is not in the room. You may leave."

The man in black laughed loudly and said, "You're really trying to hide something. We can tell whether the young lady is here or not just by looking."

At this moment, the young lady in the room patted the old lady's hand, glanced at the madam, and said, "Mother, let your daughter go out. Someone will come to rescue us."

The First Madam could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face: "An'er, don't go out. Maybe someone has gone to deliver a message, and maybe Abbot Yin Kong will hear the noise and rush over."

"Mother, didn't you hear? They only want me. If I go out now, you will still have a chance to live. What if they get angry if I don't go out?"

After saying that, he walked out without looking back.

Just as Danxue was about to fight back desperately, the door creaked open, and the young lady walked out, saying, "Would you like to see who you've come to? I am the legitimate daughter of the Minister's mansion. Are you worthy of me?"

The man in black gave her a look of admiration, then ordered his men, "That's her. Take her away!"

Several men in black were about to arrest the young lady when Shen Xing'er's mother, Madam Wang, saw this and quickly stood in front of her.

At this moment, a firelight appeared from below the mountain. The men in black knew that the guards from the Minister's residence had arrived. The leader angrily said...

"You old woman, you're really asking for trouble! Chop her up!"

Wang closed her eyes and awaited death, but the expected pain did not come.

She opened her eyes and saw Shen Xing'er crying, "Mother!" Then she ran over to shield Wang Shi from the knife.

Just as Wang was about to push Shen Xing'er away, the man in black sneered, "Such a loving mother and daughter! You keep trying to stop me. I'll start with you two. Brothers, attack! Leave no one alive!"