Mao Rong sat in the opulent chambers of the Rong family home, her eyes flashing with fury as Dai Cai recounted the events that had transpired with the bandits. Beside her, her brother Shi Rong observed the scene with detached indifference, while their mother, Xing Xeiren, maintained a veneer of composure despite the turmoil that swirled around them.
"So, you mean to tell me that you let Li Rong slip through your fingers?" Mao Rong's voice dripped with contempt as she stared daggers at Dai Cai. "You incompetent fool! Do you have any idea what you have done?"
Dai Cai hung his head in shame, unable to meet Mao Rong's gaze. "I... I'm sorry, Miss Mao. We did everything we could, but he managed to escape into the forest. The guards pursued him, but he was too quick..."
Mao Rong's lips curled in disgust, and her features contorted with rage. "Pathetic," she spat, her voice laced with venom. "You are all utterly useless. I should have known better than to entrust such an important task to a bunch of incompetent imbeciles."
Xing Xeiren intervened before Mao Rong unleashed her wrath upon Dai Cai. "Now, Mao Rong, there is no need for such harsh words," she chided gently, her tone deceptively sweet. "We must focus on finding Li Rong and dealing with him swiftly and firmly."
Mao Rong bristled at her mother's rebuke but held her tongue, knowing better than to defy Xing Xeiren's authority. "And just how do you propose we do that, Mother?" she snapped, her frustration evident. "He could be anywhere by now."
Xing Xeiren's eyes gleamed with calculated cunning as she developed her plan. "We will use Dai Cai to track him down," she declared, her voice tinged with icy determination. "He may have failed us once, but he still has his uses. We will send him out with a contingent of guards to hunt down Li Rong and ensure that he does not escape us again."
Mao Rong's expression brightened at the prospect of finally getting her revenge. "And what of the Liang family?" she inquired, her mind already spinning with possibilities. "Surely they will be expecting an explanation for Li Rong's disappearance."
Xing Xeiren's lips curled into a sly smile. "Ah, yes, the Liang family," she mused, her eyes glinting with mischief. "We will send them a letter proposing a marriage between you and General Xuan Liang. It will serve as a distraction while we deal with Li Rong once and for all."
Shi Rong, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke up, his voice cool and detached. "Mother, I fail to see how this benefits us in the long run," he remarked, his tone measured. "Marrying into the Liang family may buy us some time, but it does nothing to address the underlying issues that plague our family."
Xing Xeiren fixed her son with a steely gaze, her patience wearing thin. "Shi Rong, do not presume to question my decisions," she warned, her voice cold and authoritative. "I am the matriarch of this family, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure our survival."
Shi Rong's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of defiance danced in his eyes. He may have been the heir to the Rong family, but he knew better than to openly challenge his mother's authority. For now, he would bide his time and wait for the opportune moment to exert his own influence.
As the tension in the room simmered beneath the surface, Xing Xeiren's gaze shifted from her children to Dai Cai, her mind already turning to the next phase of their plan.
Xing Xeiren's commands echoed off the ornate walls as she issued orders to Dai Cai and a contingent of family guards. Standing before them, her regal bearing belying the ruthlessness of her intentions, she outlined their mission with cold precision.
"Dai Cai, you will lead a group of our finest guards in pursuit of Li Rong," she declared, her voice carrying a steely edge. "You are to track him down and ensure that he does not escape again. Do whatever it takes to apprehend him."
Dai Cai nodded curtly, his expression grim as he braced himself for the daunting task ahead. "Yes, Madam," he replied, his voice tinged with determination. "I will not fail you again."
Xing Xeiren's gaze narrowed as she regarded him with a calculating stare. "See that you do not," she warned, her tone laced with a thinly veiled threat.
With a silent acknowledgment, Dai Cai turned to depart, his resolve steeling him against the weight of his mission. But before he could make his exit, Xing Xeiren held up a hand, halting him in his tracks.
"Wait," she commanded, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "Before you leave, take this." From the folds of her robes, she produced a small vial filled with a dark, viscous liquid—a poison known for its ability to cripple one's intelligence.
Dai Cai's eyes widened in alarm as he recognized the deadly concoction. "Madam, are you certain?" he questioned, his voice tinged with apprehension. "This poison... it is not to be taken lightly."
Xing Xeiren's expression remained impassive as she pressed the vial into Dai Cai's hand. "I am aware of the risks," she replied, her voice cold and unwavering. "But desperate times call for desperate measures. Use it if you must, but only as a last resort."
Dai Cai nodded solemnly, his fingers tightening around the vial as he steeled himself for the grim task ahead. "Understood, Madam," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
With that, he turned on his heel and strode purposefully out of the family hall, his mind racing with the weight of his mission and the deadly burden he now carried. As he disappeared from sight, Xing Xeiren watched him go, her gaze betraying no hint of remorse.