Chapter 15 I Can Scheme Too "They're relentless, Ms. Ting. Why don't we skip the ancestral rites this year?" Ding Jie stamped her foot in anger, worried Lady Chen would scold Ma Ting again. Ma Ting only laughed at her concern. She reached out to poke the girl's round cheek with her finger, her tone free of worry. "Why would we skip the rites? We're going ahead with it. Lady Chen only wishes to test my loyalty. That is precisely what I want her to do." Ding Jie tilted her head, her expression clouded with confusion. "Ms. Ting, have you forgotten what she once said about you?" A sharp chill flickered in Ma Ting's eyes. "Remember what happened that day when Lady Chen came to me? Tell Dame Hong all about it, down to the very last detail, and let her spread the word. "Let everyone know that the lady of Marquis Sunfair's Residence went personally to Greenpeak Temple and spoke with the Ma family's daughter." Ding Jie froze only for a heartbeat before she understood at once what her mistress intended. "Ms. Ting, you wish Dame Hong to spread this so the families watching in silence will believe Marquis Sunfair's warnings were merely a scheme to keep every advantage for himself!" "You grow sharper with each passing day." Ma Ting smiled faintly and pinched her cheek. "Even without the dowry of ten million taels of gold, the countless ties behind the Ma family alone are more than enough. The people of Ming City are no fools. "They're only holding back to not cross the marquis and his family. But once they realize those so-called warnings are nothing but a ploy to hoard every benefit to himself, they will not comply with what Marquis Sunfair's Residence demands." Ding Jie shook her head firmly, her eyes filled with admiration as she gazed at Ma Ting. "If you were a man, you would surely rise as prime minister!" Her words drew laughter from Ma Ting. She gestured for Ding Jie to see to the arrangements and rose, moving with deliberate grace toward the ancestral hall. Behind Greenpeak Temple stood the Ma ancestral hall. The late emperor had once granted the family the honor of keeping it there allowing them to share half the temple's incense offerings.. Such glory, however, had long since faded. Ma Ting stepped forward properly, added oil to the lamps, and bowed with reverence. Then, she knelt, her eyes reddening as she fixed her gaze upon the two spirit tablets above. "Father, Mother... I have failed you. I could not fulfill your wish to marry into the marquis' family. With the way Li Han treats me, I cannot see myself wasting my life in this manner. "I can only hope to meet Master Tan during my trip to Greenpeak Temple and pray for a chance to revive the family." Her voice carried sorrow as she bowed three times, each strike of her forehead echoing heavily in the hall. Rising slowly, she turned 1/ to leave. She lifted her eyes to the full moon above and pulled her robe closer around her shoulders. "Let us return." Ding Jie's heart ached when she saw the faint tear marks glistening at the corners of her mistress' eyes. "Ms. Ting, you are blessed. I believe this time you will surely meet Master Tan." Ma Ting knew Ding Jie spoke only to comfort her, yet her own heart could not summon much hope. "Master Tan wanders the world. His Majesty summoned Him many times, yet he never entered the palace. How could fortune ever favor me?" Ding Jie parted her lips but found no words, so she lowered her head in silence. Ma Ting released a steady breath. "Master Tan cannot be sought. I shall remain here for a few days. If fate does not allow me to meet him, then it is not meant to be. "You need only remember what I told you to spread." Ding Jie felt the weight of the command and nodded solemnly, unwilling to show the slightest carelessness. Ma Ting had thought she would never encounter Qi Rong again after the riverboat, but her eyes widened when she saw a carriage waiting near the temple. Qi Rong had come here as well. "Ms. Ting, that seems to be Lord Zhu's carriage. He did say he has no faith in such things. Why would he come to pray?" What Ding Jie said reflected Ma Ting's own thoughts. When she noticed the curtain lift, she quickly lowered her own, hiding as if terrified he might glimpse her. "He is likely here for amusement. Do not trouble yourself. Let us go to the back courtyard." Still, she could not shake the feeling that someone's eyes pierced through the curtain toward her, yet she dared not lift it to confirm. From within his carriage, Qi Rong arched a brow as he watched her withdraw toward the rear of the temple. Meng Ding, reckless as ever, leaned forward, following his master's line of sight. A low chuckle slipped from him. "Your Highness, it seems Ms. Ma walked even faster once she noticed your carriage." A single icy glare silenced him. Meng Ding hastily clamped his hand over his mouth. "You mean to say Ms. Ma finds me disagreeable?" He shook his head violently, fearing a sudden kick. Qi Rong gave a cold snort, glanced once toward the back courtyard, and only then followed the abbot into the temple. 2/4 Chapter 15 I Can Scheme Too +10 Free Coins On the other side, Ma Ting handed the coachman some silver and instructed him to return the following day to fetch her. Then, she led Ding Jre into a meditation room, one both familiar and distant. The furnishings remained untouched, left behind by her mother years ago. Her gaze softened as she lifted a carved wooden doll from the cabinet. She cradled it carefully, then asked over her shoulder, "Is everything arranged with Dame Hong?" Ding Jie nodded. "The moment Old Mrs. Li departed, Dame Hong spread the news. By the time you return tomorrow, invitations will be waiting." She had to choose the right people before the poetry gathering. For once the event ended, fewer than seven days remained until the Mid-Autumn banquet. Without companions by then, she would be forced to guard the imperial tombs. That, she could never allow. Pinching the carved wooden doll in her palm, Ma Ting steadied her mind and ordered Ding Jie to present the offerings for the ancestral rites. The rituals were long and solemn, yet Ma Ting moved with flawless precision and did not falter once. When she finally stepped outside the ancestral hall, four hours had already slipped away. At once, she noticed Lady Chen seated in the pavilion, her brows drawn tight with displeasure. The moment Lady Chen saw her emerge, she struck her teacup against the table. The sharp sound cut through the air as her voice rose in anger. "Ms. Ma, do you have any notion of how long I have been waiting for you?" Ma Ting regarded her haughty stance and lowered her head with graceful composure. "I beg your forgiveness, Old Mrs. Li. The rites were intricate and delayed me. It was my fault that you waited." The mention of the ancestral rites cooled Lady Chen's temper for a fleeting instant. She had indeed let her anger cloud her mind and had nearly forgotten why Ma Ting had come to Greenpeak Temple. Remembering the fortune Ma Ting now carried, Lady Chen drew a long breath and forced her tone to soften. "I was thoughtless to forget about that. I would never reproach you over that matter. I already hold you as the daughter-in-law of my household." A cold gleam flickered in Ma Ting's eyes, but she lowered her lashes to veil it. She feigned unease and shifted back a step. "I would not dare lay claim to that position. Old Mrs. Li, you must not jest with me." Lady Chen's expression darkened. Although Ma Ting's head was lowered with obedient manners, the quiet strength in her bearing was unmistakable. Lady Chen released a sharp and disdainful breath. "It has been only a few days, Ms. Ma, yet you have grown sharp with your tongue. Do you mean to say my household is beneath you?" A shadow flickered across Ma Ting's gaze, but when she lifted her head, her smile was calm, carrying neither arrogance nor 3/4 humility, "Your household is noble. I am but an orphaned girl. Should I enter, I fear I would only tarnish its honor." Lady Chen ground her teeth so tightly that she nearly lost control. She forgot her practiced refinement and shouted, her voice ringing across the courtyard. "Honor? We possess no more honor after the shame you brought! And here you stand, feigning concern!" 4/4