A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“Five million dollars. I will also pay five million dollars,” said Fourth Aunt hurriedly.

“Oh?” Xia Ling playfully looked at her. “I thought I just heard Old Man Ye say that your family’s liquid capital only amounted to five million dollars?”

“I have a nest egg!” said Fourth Aunt. “Two million dollars! Give Fourth Uncle some time to raise three million dollars. I’m sure there will be enough after selling some items!”

“What? You actually have a nest egg?!” Fourth Uncle glared at her viciously.

Fourth Aunt was in the wrong, but since this was a matter of life or death, she furiously responded, “Hey, why can’t I have a nest egg?! Old Man Ye, ever since I married you, I have not had a good day! You’re always colluding with Nan Sheng to do evil things. Eating, drinking, and gambling. What bad things have you not done? If I did not save some money in my nest egg, what would become of our family if something happened? Old Man Ye, you’re so ungrateful!”

Looking at them argue, Xia Ling felt exuberant. Weren’t they trying to make her life miserable just some time ago? She wanted to see who was the one who would end up more miserable. Thus, she calmly fanned the flames. “You plan to sell off items? That’s too troublesome. I don’t have that sort of patience. I will offer you a price. Seven million dollars and both of you can be released. However, one person’s hand will have to be sacrificed.”

Both of them were taken aback. Suddenly, Fourth Uncle shouted. “I don’t want to sacrifice a hand! Xiao Ling, little girl, I thought we had an agreement. Five million dollars for my life. That stinking woman has no relation to me! You can cut off both of her hands!”

“What are you saying, Old Man Ye?!” Fourth Aunt’s eyes widened, and she started to scream hysterically. “I must have been blind to marry you, you cruel and unscrupulous thing! Xiao Ling, don’t listen to his blathering. Besides two million dollars, I will even give you the property deed to our house! Don’t cut off my hand. If you want to cut off someone’s hand, cut off his!”

It is said that a day together as husband and wife means endless devotion to the rest of your life. Sadly, when they encountered a life or death situation, the outcome was a repulsive one.

Looking at them and suddenly feeling delighted, Xia Ling gave Mr. Zhou a few instructions in a low voice.

Mr. Zhou nodded his head, hopped onto the boat, and rowed away quickly.

Xia Ling interrupted their argument and asked, “How will I receive the money?”

Both of them were startled. Fourth Uncle was personally afraid that Xia Ling would not let him go, so he said, “My luggage bag contains cash! One million dollars, two large gold bars, and a Rolex watch! You can find it in your grandma’s guest room. Xiao Ling, you can take all of them. I will transfer the remaining amount of money to you once I am safe!” The reason why he brought so many items was that he wanted to bribe Nan Sheng. Little did he know that he would be tied up by Xia Ling before he could find a suitable opportunity to offer Nan Sheng the money.

Xia Ling smiled satisfyingly. “What about you, Fourth Aunt?”

“You can have my gold ring, gold earrings, and gold necklace!” said Fourth Aunt.

Xia Ling frowned, not interested in the things Fourth Aunt had as she thought they were dirty. However, it did not matter even if she did not get them because she was very pleased with the items she earned from Fourth Uncle. She had no intention of asking for the remaining amount of money. Once Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt had left the pavilion in the middle of the lake and regained their freedom, they would definitely not give her the money. Thus, she was also too lazy to put in more effort to obtain it.

“Xiao Ling…” Fourth Aunt carefully asked, “Judging from the way you’re speaking, does this mean that you’re not going to cut off my hand anymore?”

“I never had any intentions of cutting off your hand,” said Xia Ling.

“What?” Fourth Aunt was shocked.

“Both of you actually think that I am a murderer?” Xia Ling mocked. “How about you grow some brains. If I really killed someone, do you think I would let you off so easily? Five million dollars? I would have killed you right here even if you offered me fifty million dollars.”

Her last sentence was an understatement, yet it was chilling and frightening.

Fourth Aunt leaned back and shrank her neck.

“Well then… where is Nan Sheng?” asked Fourth Uncle carefully.

Just as he had finished speaking, a wave of water was seen near the pavilion. As Mr. Zhou returned in the small boat, he dragged a muddy person onto the pavilion. The person’s eyes were tightly shut, his teeth were clenched, his face was ghastly pale, and he looked disheveled. Basically, he looked as if he was about to die.

“This is…”

“Young Master Nan!”

Both husband and wife were surprised. “Why is Young Master Nan in this state?! Ye Xingling, what on earth did you do?!”

They were initially afraid of Ye Xingling because they thought she had killed Young Master Nan. However, after Young Master Nan appeared in front of them half-dead, it reassured them that Ye Xingling did not dare to kill anyone. After considering this essential point clearly, they were no longer afraid. Fourth Uncle instantly exploded. “How dare you trick us, you brat! You even tricked me into promising you so many benefits!”

“There were quite a few perks.” Xia Ling smiled gleefully. “Thank you for letting me watch your dogfight for free and also earn a few million dollars.” She intentionally provoked the couple, causing cracks to appear in their relationship. After this, they probably would not spend time plotting against someone again in the future! It would be a miracle if both of them did not get a divorce when they returned.

Not feeling too good, she turned towards Mr. Zhou and said, “Take off all of Nan Sheng’s and Old Man Ye’s clothes and throw them into the lake.”

Mr. Zhou had no idea what she was trying to do, but he followed her orders.

Fourth Uncle squealed like a pig that was about to the butchered. “Ye Xingling, let go of me! There will be retribution!”

Xia Ling just ignored him and minded her own business as she walked towards the small boat and sat back-facing them. There was a light breeze on the surface of the lake, and the water was calm. After a while, Mr. Zhou reported from behind her. “Miss Ye, I have removed all of their clothes.”

“Even their underwear?”

Mr. Zhou paused before saying, “Yes.” Why was Miss Ye being so cruel? There was no doubt that his Young Master’s future wife had to brave and fierce, but was not this too much? Mr. Zhou had mixed feelings about this.

Xia Ling leaned out and plucked out a long lotus leaf. Without looking back, she handed it to Mr. Zhou. “Take this and use it to scratch Old Man Ye. It will be ideal if you can scratch him till there are wounds. As for Nan Sheng… Wild fun in the lotus lake. Two men and one woman. You get it.”

Mr. Zhou took a moment to understand what was going on. That… that was the wild love scenario she wanted him to construct? She wanted to make it seem like a threesome and create scratches using lotus leaves. Young Master, what sort of perverted woman have you fallen for?

Mr. Zhou felt a sinking feeling in his heart, but Xia Ling continued to urge him. “Be quick! Remember also to scratch them at the right places to make it look more realistic. I’m sure I don’t need to teach you where to scratch them, right?”

Mr. Zhou was speechless.

He gritted his teeth and completed the task Xia Ling assigned him, feeling like a pervert as he scratched Fourth Uncle’s and Nan Sheng’s inner thighs, waists, hips, chests, and other small wounds.

After that, Xia Ling instructed him to make Fourth Aunt’s long skirt look more tattered and her hair messier to cause people to speculate… At least, she still considered that Fourth Aunt was a woman and was not too vicious as to undress her.

Mr. Zhou finished his duties according to her instructions and left with her in the small boat.

“There was a love affair in the pavilion in the middle of the lake involving a passionate session among two men and one woman…” Xia Ling slightly tilted her head. “Yes, that is how the rumors will spread. Call people over to the scene, the more people, the better.” She smiled slyly. Did they not want to frame her? Well then, they are just about to get a taste of their own medicine.