CMWKSD -Chapter 294 The Appearance of Monsters and Demons

Those absurd ideas of the old matriarch—if Jiu Yue knew about them, she would definitely sneer and ask, “A few dishes? Drinking to this extent?”

Still, the old lady’s thoughts indirectly revealed that this old hypocrite had never truly suffered in her life.

Quite fitting. When Jiu Yue first came here, she had said one sentence: Every cause has its effect; your retribution is me.

As the front courtyard walls of the Weining Marquis’ mansion were on the verge of being completely torn down, Jiu Yue waved her hand, and the strong, burly men stopped their work.

They had wanted to demolish everything, but as soon as Jiu Yue thought about what she planned to do next, she decided it was better to leave a little cover…

Cover what, exactly?

Not something to be explained. In any case, it had to be covered.

The old matriarch clicked her tongue in contempt at Jiu Yue’s back.

Jiu Yue had just stepped over the worn threshold when she suddenly turned and looked at Shao Qing behind her. “Shao Qing, don’t forget the gift I brought all this way.”

Shao Qing froze for a moment, about to ask what gift it was, and then suddenly realized and nodded blankly.

The old matriarch, lagging a step behind Jiu Yue, couldn’t help but look pleased. Everyone knew how favored Jiu Yue was in front of the Fengyuan Emperor. Rare treasures were sent to her almost daily.

Inwardly, the old matriarch snorted coldly—truly, a girl who had never seen the world. She might have been cast aside before, but now that she had a chance to return to her family’s embrace, she’d cling even more desperately.

The Marquis’ wife, seeing Jiu Yue still wanting to give gifts, hurriedly said, “Jiu Yue, just your visit is enough. No need to go to such trouble.”

Jiu Yue hadn’t spoken yet when the old matriarch glared sharply at the Marquis’ wife. “What nonsense are you saying? If my own granddaughter gives me something, who are you to argue?”

The Marquis’ wife stepped back awkwardly, and the Weining Marquis gently patted her hand in comfort. It was clear that ordinarily, the old matriarch had always lorded over the Marquis’ wife. Even after being worn down by the whole family, they still didn’t resist—what was the point of that?

Jiu Yue glanced at the old matriarch with amusement. “Grandmother, you’re right. This is a gift I specially ‘offer’ to you—don’t be too surprised!”

Hearing it was for her, the old matriarch’s expression of delight grew even brighter, and she shot the Marquis’ wife a fierce glare.

The Marquis’ wife opened her mouth, hesitated, and eventually said nothing.

Jiu Yue lightly looked over the Weining Marquis’ family. No need to say anything now; later, it wouldn’t be necessary.

Then, a sturdy man from the Dark Moon Pavilion dragged a burlap sack inside.

Everyone’s expressions varied.

The old matriarch pointed at the sack, which looked entirely unfit for display: “Jiu Yue… what is this?”

Jiu Yue smiled warmly. “This is my grand gift for you!”

She kicked the burlap sack lightly, and it twitched immediately.

“See? It’s still alive.”

The old matriarch looked at it with disdain, secretly criticizing Jiu Yue for being a country girl who had no sense of decorum—even her gift was nothing but some wild creature.

They didn’t linger long at the doorway. Jiu Yue waved her hand. Shao Qing, seeing the gesture, immediately relayed it to the Dark Moon Pavilion men.

In less than a minute, the entire Marquis’ mansion was surrounded.

There was no other way—Jiu Yue worried the Fengyuan Emperor might lash her with a dust whisk, so the place had to be secured. Nothing could get in or out; even a fly wouldn’t escape.

Once she entered the main hall, the room was filled with men and women in luxurious attire.

The Weining Marquis furrowed his brow, and the Marquis’ wife looked troubled at the sight of these shady-looking people.

Jiu Yue said nothing, stepping directly toward the main seat.

Everyone in the room was momentarily surprised. The old matriarch, already standing near the main seat, was about to plop down when Jiu Yue, without any courtesy, kicked her directly aside.

The old matriarch shrieked in terror and fell to one side. Shao Qing, ever perceptive, stepped forward, waving her sleeve in the air as if swatting away filth, then said, “Princess, please sit.”

The previously noisy hall fell silent. The old matriarch remained stunned on the floor. No one expected such a move, staring wide-eyed as Jiu Yue sat boldly, exuding a mixture of amusement and disdain at the room full of schemers.

Shao Qing’s briefing had been thorough. The old Marquis had traveled, supposedly to renounce worldly life. Most people in the room were the Weining Marquis’ younger siblings’ children, of Jiu Yue’s generation, so the age difference was at most ten years.

In the main seat’s right-hand position, where the Marquis should sit, there was a middle-aged man resembling the old matriarch. This was probably Ning Er, the old matriarch’s most favored son.

Ah, the Weining Marquis’ surname is Ning. His given name isn’t important—he might soon be irrelevant anyway.

Ning Er banged the table, wanting to shout at Jiu Yue. The old matriarch quickly stood up, saying, “It’s nothing, nothing… I just didn’t stand properly,” and even gave Ning Er a knowing look. Quite adaptable.

Then, under Shao Qing’s signals, everyone in the room reluctantly performed a kneeling salute to Jiu Yue. Others might be humiliated, but Jiu Yue felt immensely satisfied.

Once seated, the Marquis’ wife wanted to take Jiu Yue aside to talk heart-to-heart, deeply concerned for her. But the old matriarch wouldn’t allow it. Being able to exchange a few polite words with Jiu Yue was already her greatest concession.

She began to complain about her children and grandchildren: none did anything proper, some held inadequate positions, others were dissatisfied with their current status, or only sought to marry into high families.

Jiu Yue remained silent, making the old matriarch think she was mentally taking note, planning to reassign positions. In reality, Jiu Yue hadn’t registered a single thing—she simply sat there, chin in hand, watching the Weining Marquis’ family speak, seeing just how thick their faces could get.

Seeing Jiu Yue silent, Ning San—the old matriarch’s only daughter—spoke up insolently. For her daughter’s sake, the old matriarch had cast Jiu Yue aside. Now, Ning San felt no guilt whatsoever, even believing Jiu Yue’s fortune was due entirely to being abandoned. Without her jealousy, Jiu Yue wouldn’t have any of her current advantages.

Turning to Jiu Yue, she commanded, “Well? Say something! What does your silence mean?”

Ning Er had also lost patience. Were it not for the old matriarch praising Jiu Yue’s current favor, he would have done as he pleased with her. How could he now sit here humbly before a mere girl?