“Mo Yan?” Bai He asked from the inner room.

“Yes.” Mo Yan responded and entered the room, only to freeze when she saw all four senior maids and Mo Zi present.

Mo Yan was a quiet maid, somewhat similar to Mo Zi when she kept her eyes lowered submissively—except Mo Zi was pretending while it was Mo Yan’s true nature. Though her family lived in the capital, they were poor with many younger siblings, so her parents had no choice but to sell her to a matchmaker. Later, Qiu Sanniang selected her to work at Prince Jing’s Mansion, which made her family quite happy. Not only was the monthly wage generous, but the high threshold of the Prince’s Mansion also brought honor to her parents.

Hearing that Mo Yan’s family lived in the city, Qiu Sanniang had permitted her to return home for two days each month. From the bottom of her heart, being able to serve such a mistress—compared to other maids in the mansion—she felt quite fortunate.

Originally, she had thought that as long as she could continue serving Qiu Sanniang, when she reached the right age she might be matched with a decent man. Even if not wealthy, at least she’d have no worries about food and clothing. But now, she lived in constant fear. On one side, she worried about her parents; on the other, she felt deeply guilty.

Mo Yan lowered her head, feeling uneasy inside, her hands involuntarily twisting the hem of her garment. “Miss… you called for me?”

She wasn’t a clever girl. Qiu Sanniang sat with her beautiful face on the soft couch, leisurely drinking tea. Mo Yan didn’t immediately detect that something was wrong.

When no one spoke, Mo Yan looked up again. Only then did she belatedly discover that Qiu Sanniang showed not the slightest trace of the “sudden chill’s” ugly appearance. Frightened, she collapsed to the ground, her whole body trembling like chaff in a sieve.

“Mo Yan, take a look—is this yours?” Qiu Sanniang had Xiao Yi bring out the item.

Mo Yan obediently glanced at it, her face turning ashen as she prostrated herself on the ground, not daring to say half a word. The small paper packet in Xiao Yi’s hand was identical to the one she’d received containing the drug. But how could this be? She had put the medicine in the tea, personally watched Qiu Sanniang drink it, then burned the paper.

“Stop thinking about it. This packet is yours.” Mo Zi spoke. “That night in the bamboo grove by the library pavilion, you spoke with someone. Unfortunately for you, I happened to overhear everything.”

Mo Yan was first shocked beyond belief, then realizing her deed had been exposed, she burst into tears with a wail, kowtowing repeatedly and begging Qiu Sanniang to spare her life.

Qiu Sanniang said languidly, “Spare what life? Though your contract of servitude is in my hands, I have no intention of taking your life. At most, I’ll just drive you out.”

Mo Zi coordinated seamlessly, saying to Qiu Sanniang, “Miss, that won’t do. We must at least find out who instigated this, right? Otherwise, if someone harms you again in the future and you lose your life for no reason, wouldn’t that be unjust?”

“Ask her? Could she even say? But even if she doesn’t tell me, I know who it is. If I drive her out, that side will receive the news very quickly. Those who can eliminate her parents can naturally eliminate her too—dead with no one to testify. Why should I be the villain?” Qiu Sanniang called to Bai He.

Bai He stepped forward to pull Mo Yan up. “Get up and pack your things to go home. Miss is kind-hearted. You don’t have many days left with your parents—live each day as it comes.”

Hong Mei still didn’t know what had happened from start to finish. From when Qiu Sanniang wiped the makeup off her face in front of her until now, her eyes had remained wide, her expression alternating between grave and thoughtful.

Hearing the three people’s words, Mo Yan grew increasingly alarmed. Thinking of the harsh threats constantly made by that side, she truly felt that if she were driven out, their entire family’s lives would certainly be lost. Therefore, how could she leave? She cried with snot and tears streaming down her face, crawling to Qiu Sanniang’s feet on her knees, clutching the hem of Qiu Sanniang’s skirt and refusing to let go.

“Miss has the heart of a bodhisattva—please forgive me this once. If they hadn’t used my parents to threaten me, I would never have done such a thing. I’ll tell you everything I know. I only beg you not to drive me away, even if you make me wash clothes or scrub chamber pots. Please!”

Bai He looked somewhat reluctant. “Miss, let’s hear what she has to say before deciding, all right?”

This should have been her line. Mo Zi thought to herself—this was good. Things were flowing naturally without her having to put on an act.

Qiu Sanniang looked down at Mo Yan’s tear-streaked face, her expression turning cold. “You can speak, but in the end, how you’re dealt with isn’t for you to decide.”

Mo Zi received Qiu Sanniang’s eye signal and took the stage. “Mo Yan, no wonder Miss is angry. Though that medicine wouldn’t kill you, if Miss had taken it, her face would have become unrecognizable—neither human nor ghost.”

Xiao Yi had inquired at a major pharmacy—it was a rare poisonous flower powder that would make skin ulcerate. Even after healing, it would scar, leaving pockmarks frightening to behold.

Mo Yan stammered, “She said it wouldn’t kill anyone, just cause an illness. She only wanted to prevent Miss from showing her face at the Old Princess’s birthday celebration and reduce Miss’s chances to compete for Third Master’s favor.” She shuddered all over.

Lu Ju snorted. “You believe whatever they tell you? Can’t you think for yourself? If our Miss had really taken your medicine, they’d definitely trace it back to you. You’d be pushed out to die while still serving them loyally—truly pitiful.”

Mo Yan finally understood. The other side didn’t care about her life or death at all. In an angry voice, she said, “Miss, this was all done by Jin Si’s godmother’s orders. Not long after I entered Mozhi Residence, on a day off, she found me and wanted me to be their informant. Whatever places Miss went, whatever she said, whatever she did—I had to tell her everything. At first I ignored her, but the second time she came, she knew where my family lived, my parents’ names, how many younger brothers and sisters I had—she knew everything clearly. She also said if I didn’t agree to work for her, she could have someone take my whole family’s lives. I half believed, half doubted. Then the third time, she brought my mother’s only silver hairpin. On my monthly day home, I asked my parents—truly some men had come knocking at night, smashing things and taking the silver hairpin before leaving. Only then did I believe her. For the sake of my parents and siblings’ lives, I had no choice but to obey her, meeting with her every five days. Seeing that Miss seemed to have no intention of moving against Jin Niang, she found it very strange and always asked me three or four times whether there were any suspicious details I’d missed. When I said there weren’t, she called me stupid. Several days ago, she called me out late at night and instructed me to drug Miss before the Old Princess’s birthday. I refused, and she threatened me again. Later she said the medicine wouldn’t kill anyone, so I had no choice but to agree.”

“Who is Jin Si’s godmother?” Mo Zi didn’t really manage affairs within Prince Jing’s Mansion these days.

“Jin Si’s godmother is surnamed Zheng. She and Jin Si’s birth mother were sworn sisters with a very close relationship. She now manages the rough-work maids and servants’ wives at Yonggu Studio—a first-class steward matron.” Hong Mei broke her silence, her expression seeming to comprehend.

“So every time you met, it was Jin Si’s godmother?” Mo Zi asked again.

“Yes, it was her every time.” Mo Yan confirmed.

“Did Jin Si’s godmother ever say she was listening to her daughter?” It seemed they were approaching the truth, yet they discovered the other side wasn’t simple.

“No. She only said she had to think of her mistress—that is, Jin Niang.” After thinking for a while, Mo Yan answered.

Qiu Sanniang glanced at Mo Zi. Mo Zi shook her head, indicating there was nothing more to ask, and had Bai He and Lu Ju take Mo Yan away.

Having done her best, Mo Yan looked at Qiu Sanniang’s expression and knew that making more fuss would be useless. She obediently left the room.

“Mo Zi, what’s your take on this?” In front of Hong Mei, Qiu Sanniang asked her.

Mo Zi’s view was this: “Miss, this Jin Si is probably not simple. At the very least, we can’t treat her as an opponent fighting alone. That she could find people to threaten Mo Yan’s parents’ lives, plus that man who escaped from First Lady’s quarters, she clearly has help outside—and rather powerful help at that. If we can’t uncover this trump card of hers, we can only defend passively.”

“Indeed, we still can’t underestimate her.” After hearing from Mo Zi that Jin Si wanted to harm her, Qiu Sanniang had been furious. She had originally wanted to use this opportunity to strike at Jin Si. As a result, Mo Zi came up with the strategy of “if you can’t provoke them, avoid them.” She felt stifled and frustrated, but since she hadn’t been out in a long time, being able to use this as an excuse to get some fresh air outside was fine, so she agreed. Who would have thought Jin Si actually had formidable backing?

“Hong Mei, having witnessed this affair, what do you think?” Qiu Sanniang agreed with Mo Zi’s assessment. This time when going out for seclusion, Hong Mei had volunteered to come along, clearly intending to demonstrate her loyalty. Because generally speaking, when a mistress afflicted with serious illness moved to a separate residence, those who followed closely might end up losing favor.

Hong Mei was a bit nervous but also felt an inexplicable joy. Though she had previously been a favored senior maid beside the Old Princess Consort, she also understood the principle that when someone leaves, their tea grows cold. Now new faces beside the Old Princess Consort had replaced her position. Rather than longing for who knows when she might be transferred back to start over, better to be completely loyal to the capable mistress that was Qiu Sanniang. Following her these past days, she had observed that Qiu Sanniang was extraordinary, and Mo Zi even more so. Even Bai He, Lu Ju, and Xiao Yi—each had their strengths and lived completely differently from other lowly maids. Actually, she had grown increasingly envious. It was just that being a latecomer who carried the Old Princess Consort’s banner, though Qiu Sanniang used her, she didn’t quite trust her. She felt wronged and uncomfortable but couldn’t speak of it. Now, patient waiting and active striving seemed to have borne fruit.

“Miss, you truly don’t know how frightening things are until you learn the truth. Thinking about it now—the affairs of the two previous Third Ladies, though the Old Princess and the Princess Consort gave strict orders three times over not to let word spread, it still spread through every street and alley until everyone knew, exaggerated and told unpleasantly. Perhaps it was Jin Si’s outside helpers who did it.”

From this point on, Hong Mei became a major loyal supporter in Qiu Sanniang’s inner household struggles.

Mo Zi also praised Hong Mei. “Well reasoned. I always found it strange before—why did family scandals become such a clamorous uproar, making the young ladies of the capital no longer dare to marry Xiao Sanlang?”

“I think we should use Mo Yan in reverse. They now think Mo Yan succeeded without arousing suspicion. When Miss recovers from her illness and returns, they’ll certainly send her on missions again. At that time, we can use Mo Yan to find out who Jin Si’s outside helpers are.” Hong Mei offered a good suggestion.

Qiu Sanniang and Mo Zi exchanged smiles.

Hong Mei didn’t understand their meaning and thought she had said something wrong.

“Hong Mei, with you here, Miss truly won’t need me anymore.” Having previously held multiple positions, Mo Zi’s function as a maid was greatly reduced starting from this day.

“Don’t say that—I’m far inferior to you.” Hong Mei quickly said.

“You two stop flattering each other. Quickly pack things up. Let’s change clothes and prepare to go out.” Qiu Sanniang stretched her body and went to the clothing trunk to select something appropriate for the season.

Aside from accompanying the Old Princess to various noble households, Hong Mei had hardly ever been on the streets. Not understanding, she asked, “Miss, we can go out?”

“Wearing these, we can go out.” This residence had a secret passage leading to the neighboring residence. Unfortunately, that residence also belonged to her, Qiu Sanniang, and the Prince’s Mansion guards watching this residence had no authority there.

Hong Mei looked and her eyes widened. Men’s clothing?!

Mo Zi patted Hong Mei’s shoulder and said with a low laugh, “Welcome—you’ve boarded the pirate ship.”