Heir Zheng pulled Xiao Bojian over with one arm and smiled. "Senior Xiao, I didn't think that House Jingan's Third Young Madam was so talented."
Xiao Bojian finally loosened the tight grip he had on the railing. The frost in his eyes also slowly faded away. His gaze scanned the area across the pond as he pressed his lips together without saying a word.
The manservant could hear the happiness in Heir Zheng's voice, so he quickly continued his report. "Heir Zheng, this servant heard that the longevity peach buns Third Young Madam made are to be sent to the feast located in the outer court. If Heir Zheng wishes to taste them, why not go to the banquet hall? The feast is about to start."
"Alright, thanks for the news." Heir Zheng casually tossed out a peanut made of gold; the manservant hurriedly received it and profusely thanked the young master before leaving.
As Heir Zheng fanned himself, he exclaimed, "Senior Xiao, let's go! We have to rush over there or there won't be any left for us."
Xiao Bojian went along with Heir Zheng silently.
At around the same time, the prince sitting on the third floor of Qingfeng Court also stood up. The corners of his lips curled. "Let's go. To the outer court."
Although the Great Wu Dynasty was more open-minded compared to the previous dynasties, they still separated males and females whenever possible. Thus, the two genders were seated in different halls.
Chu Lian followed behind Madam Zou obediently. Anyone looking at her now wouldn't think that she was the same Third Young Madam who had just turned the tables on a bunch of noble madams in Mei Court.
Madam Zou's brows were slightly drawn together. By the time she had heard of Chu Lian's troubles and rushed back to Mei Court, she had already realised that someone was out to get Chu Lian.
While House Dingyuan was prospering both in numbers and wealth and seemed like a mighty noble house, the truth of the matter was that the main branch and second branch were fighting each other.
Madam Zou was a young lady from the second branch, and was also the eldest granddaughter of the family. Her aunt didn't like her at all, and didn't have to worry about offending House Jingan either. There was no limit to what her aunt could do.
Madam Zou had been informed upon reaching Mei Court that her youngest daughter had accidentally fallen off a decorative mountain and had been hurt. She had rushed over like someone had set her on fire, only to find that her daughter had only scraped her knee. By then, she had begun to feel like something wasn't quite right.
However, she hadn't expected that her aunts real target was Chu Lian.
Madam Zou inwardly sighed and turned to Chu Lian. "Third Sister-in-Law, it's Eldest Sister-in-Laws fault for not taking care of you properly and letting you suffer. Just stick to me for now."
Chu Lian shook her head and smiled. "It's not Eldest Sister-in-Law's fault! Even if they didn't get me this time, they have a thousand and one other tricks they could use on me. Unless I never step out of the house again, I'm bound to fall for one of them. Don't take it to heart. I even earned quite a few good accessories today!"
When Chu Lian spoke of the accessories, her almond-shaped eyes lit up, clearly showing how happy she was. She really hadn't let any of what just happened affect her at all.
Madam Zou wanted to say something, but she stopped just as she was about to speak. Thinking of the shock Chu Lian must have suffered just now, she decided to save the rest of her words for when they got back to the Jingan Estate.
It wasn't really a good thing to take the accessories from those noble madams and princesses.
Madam Zou patted Chu Lian's hand and led her to the courtyard where the female guests would be participating in the banquet. In her heart, she decided to return home quickly once the banquet ended so that they could avoid any other traps set by her aunt, Madam Huang.
In the end, everything went smoothly and the guests were invited to take a walk to Dingbo Pavilion after the feast. Chu Lian excused herself and rested in a guest room with her two nieces for a couple hours.
Madam Zou wanted to leave as early as possible and Chu Lian didn't want to continue staying at the Dingyuan Estate, so before dusk, they sent someone to summon House Jingan's carriage.
Wenqing was led to Xi Court by one of the Dingyuan Estates maidservants. Just as they turned around a corner and entered a secluded area, the maidservant suddenly turned around and took out a letter from her sleeves, shoving it into Wenqing's hands.
Wenqing froze in response, but heard the maidservant explain, "This is a letter from Mister Xiao to Sixth Miss Chu. Sister, please be discreet." Following that, the maidservant ran off.
Wenqing's entire body had stiffened. For Sixth Miss Chu? Wasn't that their Third Young Madam? Who was Mister Xiao?
When she finally recovered her senses, she quickly hid the letter in her sleeves. After looking left and right to make sure there was no one else around, she heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
Xi Court was right around the corner. Wenqing made it there in two or three paces. She closed the door behind her and finally dared to take the letter out from her sleeve. There was the Chinese character for Xiao on the simple envelope, handwritten in a way that divulged the writer's strong personality.
When Wenqing recalled the reminders that Senior Servant Zhong had given her yesterday, her heart beat like a drum.
However, the way Chu Lian looked while making desserts, and the way she amiably mingled with the maidservants also popped into her mind. A glint of determination flashed in Wenqing's eyes.
She looked down at the letter in her hands.
This must be from someone trying to frame Third Young Madam. Third Young Madam was such a good person; how could she possibly be having a secret affair?! Senior Servant Zhong was too narrow-minded. She had to hide this letter! It was pitiful enough that Third Young Master had left Third Young Madam all by herself to go to the northern border. She had to protect Third Young Madam! She couldn't let anyone harm her!
After making her decision, Wenqing folded the letter and placed it back into her sleeve.
By the time she returned to Chu Lian's side, Madam Zou was already preparing to leave the Dingyuan Estate.
Wenqing followed behind Chu Lian, her head lowered and her expression tense. Chu Lian found it strange and turned to look at her, asking worriedly, "Wenqing, are you feeling alright?"
When Wenqing looked up to meet Third Young Madam's concerned gaze, her heart softened and she was even more sure that the letter she had received was from someone trying to frame Third Young Madam.
Wenqing hurriedly shook her head. "Third Young Madam, this servant is fine. It's been a little too hot these few days; perhaps this servant looks off due to the heat."
"When we return to the estate, go back to your room and take a break. You don't have to serve by my side for now."
"Thank you, Third Young Madam."
Madam Zou and Chu Lian left the Dingyuan Estate. When they reached the Jingan Estate, it wasn't even dark yet.
Old Matriarch He had stayed behind in the Dingyuan Estate for the night banquet. She would probably return late at night. Chu Lian sent Wenqing back to her room to rest the moment they returned to Songtao Court.
In the guest room provided for male guests in the Dingyuan Estate, Xiao Bojian was seated on a wooden chair. Within minutes, a knock sounded at the door. After his grunt of approval, a woman dressed up as a normal maidservant pushed the door open and entered.
The maidservant closed the door carefully and knelt down before Xiao Bojian.
"Master."
"Have you carried out your task?"
"Master, please rest easy. The letter was given to one of Sixth Miss Chu's personal maidservants. Sixth Miss Chu must have read Master's letter by now."
"Alright. Return to hiding. Don't expose yourself."
"Understood." The maidservant opened the door and left. Right after passing through the doorway of the guest room, the cold expression on her face changed into one that was timid and weak.
It was as if she were two different people.
After the maidservant left, another person appeared within the guest room. This man was dressed in ash-grey clothing. He had an average figure and average looks.
He bowed his head and lowered his voice as he said, "Master, isn't it a waste to expose Seven just for a woman?"
The contented expression on Xiao Bojian's face instantly turned icy and hard. He narrowed his eyes and turned to look at the man behind him. "One, it's not your place to comment on what I do."
The man called One stiffened and quickly lowered his head even further. "This subordinate has overstepped his bounds."
Xiao Bojian waved his hand and continued to coldly order, "Don't come out again unless I call for you."
Wenqing returned to her own room, a little flustered. She shut the door the moment she entered and took out the letter, placing it on the table. She didn't dare to read it herself. Rather, she wanted to use a fire starter to burn it to ashes.
Just as she stood up, someone knocked on the door, scaring Wenqing into dropping the fire starter. In her panic, she hid the letter under a book.
"Sister Wenqing, Third Young Madam asked you to go to the kitchen and have some warm soup before you sleep." It was the voice of the little girl who was in charge of sweeping the courtyard.
Wenqing didn't dare to tarry and quickly went out.
Right after she had left, Fuyan came out from the room next door. As she watched Wenqing's disappearing back, she snorted in disdain.
She wasn't on duty today, and Chu Lian had gone off to attend the feast at the Dingyuan Estate. Since she had been feeling sore and tender all over from her monthlies, she had gone back to her room to rest after reporting to Senior Servant Gui.
However, right after coming out of her room, she had heard the lower tier servants discussing how Third Young Madam had returned, and how she seemed to have brought some treasures back from the Dingyuan Estate.
Following that, she had heard sounds from the room next door and realised that Wenqing had returned to her room.
Wenqing had only come to Songtao Court after Third Young Master had left, and had only been serving here for a few days! Fuyan, on the other hand, had been Third Young Madam's personal maidservant since she was still an unmarried young girl. She should have been the one involved in whatever fortune Third Young Madam had run into at the Dingyuan Estate. Unfortunately, Wenqing's arrival had snatched her position away.
Fuyan wasn't satisfied. Third Young Madam had become much more friendly after getting married. She would even bestow rewards or delicacies on her personal maidservants from time to time.
Since Wenqing had followed Chu Lian to the Dingyuan Estate today and Third Young Madam had gotten something good, Wenqing couldn't possibly have returned empty-handed. Fuyan couldn't help but feel jealous.
That reward should have been hers!
However, it had gone to Wenqing instead!
The personal maidservants all lived in a small courtyard next to Songtao Court, two to a room. Since Chu Lian had just returned, the others had all gone to serve her. Only Fuyan was left in the courtyard.
Fuyan glanced at Wenqing's room, where the doors had been left half open due to her hurried departure. She suddenly turned and entered Wenqing's room.
Since Wenqing and Wenlan had just moved there, the simple room was rather empty. She could see everything at one glance. Fuyan nervously gulped and started rummaging around the desk.
There were the usual classics on the table: Lessons for Women, Book of Songs, etc. Next to them were the essential tools for writing. Fuyan suddenly spotted a yellow corner of paper sticking out of a book; she pulled it out and found a letter.
There was only a single Xiao written on the envelope.
Fuyan's eyes darted about in thought. She was about to put it back when she heard voices outside the room. She stuffed the letter into her arms in fright and quickly shut the door and left.
When she returned to her own room and heard the sounds of the door opening and closing from next door, she collapsed on the ground.
After getting her breath back, Fuyan remembered the letter she had taken. She quickly got up and locked the door before sitting by the bed and taking out the wrinkled envelope. She opened it slowly.
She was so nervous that her hands were trembling, but the thrill of peeking into someone else's secret excited her.
When she opened the letter fully and read the contents, Fuyan froze.
This letter was meant for Third Young Madam!
It was Mister Xiao who had written it, intending it for Third Young Madam, and he wanted to meet her at Defeng Tea House on the twenty-sixth!
Fuyan was Chu Lian's personal maidservant, so she naturally knew of the goings-on between the two back in the Ying Estate. However, she hadn't thought that Chu Lian would dare to continue having an affair with Mister Xiao even after marrying into House Jingan!
In her panic, Fuyan didn't know what to do.
She didn't dare to enter Wenqing's room again, so she could only hide the letter in the bottom of her storage chest for now.