"Now that you're here, just relax and stay at home," Grace winked at her. "Grandmother will definitely arrange a wonderful marriage for you!"
Rona Zhu shyly lowered her head, saying nothing.
The unmarried girls sat not far from the married women.
Perhaps feeling her daughter was bullied by Grace, Aunt Leah deliberately stirred things up and suddenly said, "Wendy, are you feeling better?"
Ever since Wendy Zhu was released from prison, she fell seriously ill.
Minister Zhuo asked Jason Zhuo to take care of her.
So, the manor had been peaceful for a while.
Today was the Dowager Lady’s birthday, so they returned to celebrate.
As soon as Aunt Leah spoke, everyone turned to look at Wendy Zhu, and the atmosphere instantly became a bit awkward.
Wendy Zhu, pale-faced, replied, "I'm fine."
"Fine? What's fine about it?" Jason Zhuo chimed in. "Wendy's health is terrible. She can't cultivate at all anymore! The servants don't even take proper care of her. If I hadn't gone over, she wouldn't even get a cup of hot water!"
Aunt Leah, ever the drama queen, echoed, "Oh dear! How pitiful! Father, Mother, since all the other consorts have gone back to their families, why not let Wendy move back to the Marquis Manor?"
Letting Wendy Zhu move back in would annoy both Lian and Grace every day—just the way Aunt Leah liked it.
The Dowager Lady shot her a sharp look.
But Aunt Leah pretended not to notice and kept going: "Honestly, what happened back then had nothing to do with her! She was just a baby at the time!
Besides, last time when Mother, Sister-in-law, and Grace were trapped in the barrier, it was Wendy who sent her little eunuch to deliver food to you!
Grace glanced at Aunt Leah sideways and laughed, "Second Aunt, you make a good point. Wendy, now that you're back, why not stay? Move into the Fragrant Pavilion next to me! It's a great spot—Second Aunt loved it so much, she never wanted to leave! Isn't that right, Second Aunt?"
Aunt Leah's mouth twitched in embarrassment.
Wendy Zhu glanced at her and said, "No thanks! I'm used to living alone."
She'd have to be truly desperate to move in next to Grace.
Now that her health was so poor, and Grace was the strongest cultivator in the Zhu family and a powerful Spiritual Alchemist, Wendy knew Grace could finish her off in a heartbeat.
"Oh! Second Aunt, all your good intentions, but Wendy just isn't interested!" Grace said.
Aunt Leah sulked and said nothing.
Just as the banquet was about to begin, Grace noticed her brother and Princess Olivia Gu were missing.
So she found an excuse to step out and went to look for them where they were staying.
But when she got there, she saw all the servants gathered at the front gate, silent and nervous.
"Why are you all standing here? Where's my brother and sister-in-law?" Grace asked.
"The young master told us to stand guard here," a servant replied.
Grace sensed something was wrong, but kept calm. "If you see them, tell them the banquet's starting soon and they should come over."
"Yes, Miss Lawrence."
So Grace left.
She circled around to the backyard and climbed over the wall to get inside.
She hadn't gone far, moving stealthily, when she heard Jason Zhuo's voice: "Do it!"
Startled, Grace peered through the branches and saw Princess Olivia Gu, radiating murderous intent, holding a dagger aimed at Jason Zhuo's heart.
"Go ahead!" Jason Zhuo grabbed her hand and pressed it toward his own chest.
Olivia instinctively pulled back, and as they struggled, the dagger fell to the ground.