Before dawn on the second day, someone was already knocking at the Old Madam’s courtyard gate.
An old woman rubbed her sleepy eyes while grumbling, “Who is it, disturbing good dreams at this hour?” She opened the door a crack, then immediately broke into a beaming smile and opened it wide. “Oh, Miss Lübi!”
Lübi entered gracefully with a smile, her eyes naturally surveying the surroundings. Then she produced a small silver ingot. “Mama, Lübi would like to ask you about some matters.”
At the sight of money, the old woman’s face lit up with delight, nodding eagerly. “Miss Lübi, don’t be so formal. Whatever this old woman knows, I’ll certainly tell you.” The two entered the gatehouse. The old woman brewed hot tea, and Lübi sipped it slowly. She was liked by both masters and servants because of her consistently affable charm—never arrogant despite being favored, never proud despite being respected, and very considerate of others.
“I want to ask about what happened last night.” Lübi had come at someone’s request.
That person was naturally Xiao Wei.
And through Second Master’s request, even Lübi herself had become curious. When had Second Master ever concerned himself with matters in the inner quarters? It sounded like some maid from some household had misbehaved and the Old Madam wanted to teach her a lesson—nothing particularly remarkable in the Prince’s mansion. Yet Second Master hadn’t slept a wink all night in his study.
The Xiao family had rules: matters of the inner quarters were handled by the mistresses, and men could not interfere. Therefore, Second Master couldn’t appear himself and had to send her early in the morning.
“Well…” The gatekeeper woman laughed awkwardly. “Miss Lübi, it’s not that I won’t tell you, but I just watch the gate—I don’t know what goes on inside.”
Lübi placed a second ingot on the table. “Doesn’t Mama know what kind of person Lübi is? If you tell me, the benefits are yours, and trouble won’t find you either.”
The two gleaming silver ingots dazzled the old woman’s eyes. Naturally, her lips loosened, and she told roughly what had happened last night. However, she didn’t know the true inside story—only that a maid named Mo Zi had done something wrong and wouldn’t admit it, so the Old Madam had her beaten. She was now locked in the storage room, waiting to be questioned again today.
Finally, the old woman whispered in confidence, “I heard the young maids gossiping that this unlucky girl has designs on Second Master. Miss Lübi, you should be on guard and keep Second Master away from her. Last night when Second Master came to pay respects, it was quite strange—as if he’d heard rumors and came to help her.”
After leaving the main courtyard, Lübi felt the name Mo Zi sounded familiar. Passing by the study pavilion, she suddenly remembered that rainy night and the maid who had been with Second Master. She couldn’t recall her appearance, but she had an impression of that graceful figure. At the time, she had wanted to help Second Master change clothes, and that maid was going to leave, but Second Master said he wouldn’t change and told the maid not to go out—then lifted his feet and left. She had been momentarily confused then. Thinking about it now, Second Master had obviously been protecting Mo Zi from getting rained on. Last night, Second Master had been drinking with Xiao Man but couldn’t sit still. He’d gone out with Yan Yan in between—it turned out he had come to the Old Madam’s courtyard. Recalling what Second Master had once said to her about liking or not liking, her heart began pounding wildly.
“Annoying troublesome maid!” That’s what Second Master had said. If applied to this Mo Zi, it fit perfectly. There was clearly something unclear between the two of them.
Lübi was worried, yet also relieved. Regardless of whether Second Master had feelings for Mo Zi, judging from the Old Madam’s attitude, she wouldn’t allow Mo Zi into Weifeng Residence and would most likely expel her. It wasn’t jealousy—she just felt that the person who should have Second Master’s true heart shouldn’t be a mere maid, especially when the new Second Mistress was about to be decided. Most importantly, she sensed that although Mo Zi was a maid like herself and Hongluo, she was quite extraordinary. This kind of extraordinariness might also develop into someone like Wei Liu Niang—prideful and intolerant of others. Weifeng Residence already had Wei Liu. Adding another Mo Zi would give her a headache, let alone the future Second Mistress. So, even with her kind heart, this time she wasn’t aligned with Second Master but silently stood on the side of the Old Madam and Princess Consort. The Xiao family had many male masters. In the second branch alone, three sons were outstanding. If the mistresses weren’t skilled at management, the inner quarters would have long been in chaos. As for Third Master, he had been spoiled by the elders, but ultimately they had selected the right woman for him, and now he no longer excessively favored Si Niang. Whether cutting the knot swiftly or handling things methodically, it was always the right approach.
“Lübi, did you find out?” Despite all the rooms in Weifeng Residence, Xiao Wei was still standing at the entrance.
Lübi’s heart grew uneasy again, though her face smiled. “Second Master, what’s the matter with you? Getting so anxious over a maid that you can’t sit still.” She didn’t know if Second Master himself had noticed, but in that anxious expression, she detected traces of emotional attachment.
“I’m asking you how she is.” Xiao Wei’s face darkened. “This is no time for joking.”
Lübi was startled. Second Master was losing his temper with her? Since entering his chambers, he had never even raised his voice at her. Hongluo sometimes got scolded for being thoughtless. But she knew she couldn’t get angry. Once angry, she would lose the man’s heart.
So she smiled gently. “Second Master, really, treating the Old Madam and Princess Consort as villains? I heard that maid called Mo Zi did something wrong, and they merely taught her a small lesson. She’s locked in the storage room and will be released today. That maid came as part of Third Madam’s dowry. For Third Madam’s sake, nothing will happen to her.”
Lübi couldn’t lie. Hearing this, Xiao Wei’s heart settled somewhat, but he asked again, “Do you know what she did wrong?” They shouldn’t know about Mo Zi running around outside.
“I didn’t inquire about that. Besides, I couldn’t probe too deeply. If the Old Madam found out, she’d think you had something with that maid, Second Master. Wouldn’t that add another crime to the maid’s record?” Lübi used jest to test the truth.
Xiao Wei was a man—how could his thoughts be as circuitous as a woman’s? He pulled out his prepared excuse. “What could I have with her? I’ve barely seen her face a few times. It’s just that when receiving Third Brother’s wife, I learned she was valued by my sister-in-law. Since she’s my sister-in-law’s maid, my sister-in-law should be the one to discipline her. Seeing Grandmother interfere, I felt it wasn’t quite appropriate, so I sent you to inquire. If she’s only locked in the storage room, it seems there’s no major issue. Have the kitchen prepare some breakfast items Grandmother loves. I’ll bring them when I pay respects later.”
Lübi was stunned. “Second Master is going again this morning?”
She used the word “again.” Xiao Wei didn’t catch it and nodded in affirmation. “I’ve been busy with military affairs lately and have been somewhat neglectful of Grandmother. Go prepare quickly.”
Lübi slowly curtsied. When she raised her head, she only saw Xiao Wei striding away like a shooting star. Was this—was this the difference between heaven and earth? For so long, having always been valued and cherished by Xiao Wei, she once again felt an unprecedented coldness. So when one’s beloved was devoted to another, no matter how magnanimous one’s heart, it would still hurt. Xiao Wei had always treated everyone equally, showing no favoritism. She had thought that was simply his nature—a man who wouldn’t display his emotions. Who knew he would become so frantic over a little maid? Therefore, she too became frantic.
After dawn, Xiao Wei went to pay respects to his grandparents but gained nothing. The Old Madam kept him for breakfast, deflecting his subtle probing questions without a trace, and hinted that men shouldn’t interfere with women managing household trivial matters but should focus on the nation and state. After a lengthy earnest talk, she even personally saw the grandfather and grandson to the door.
As soon as she turned around, the Old Madam spat and cursed about the little fox spirit, saying her tricks ran deep.
Of the two daughters-in-law specially attending the Old Madam, the Princess Consort was assisting from the side and understood clearly, while Wei Qiongyu was confused but didn’t ask despite wanting to.
After the three women entered the room, the Old Madam also told Wei Qiongyu about last night’s events and said, “I know you quite liked that maid, so I didn’t immediately summon you. However, you’re reasonable and should know that servants being improper is most infuriating. If rewards and punishments aren’t clear, everyone in this mansion will follow suit—how could that be acceptable? That maid not only climbed walls to leave the mansion disguised as a man, but more hatefully, she seduced Wei’er with scheming intentions. Originally, for Third Granddaughter-in-law’s sake, I planned to just give her a beating and be done with it. But now I must have a marriage broker sell her off, lest she become a great disaster.”
Wei Qiongyu paused, then said, “Old Madam should decide. As people say, ‘You may know a person’s face but not their heart’—Qiongyu was also mistaken.”
After idle gossip for two hours, a woman servant reported that the male masters had left court. The Old Madam sent Wei Qiongyu to attend to the Prince, keeping only the Princess Consort.
After Wei Qiongyu left, the Old Madam said to her daughter-in-law, “Qiongyu is soft-hearted, and Sanniang was chosen by her for Third Son. I’m afraid she might think badly of our intentions and leak it to your father-in-law, who would certainly scold me for not coveting the granddaughter-in-law’s dowry. In earlier years, if I hadn’t been thick-skinned, how could the Xiao family have today’s standing with only these men who know nothing but training troops and martial arts? You need to learn from me. Not only did you let the eldest daughter-in-law swindle silver, but the third daughter-in-law is also conducting business behind your back. Think about it—she’s a merchant’s daughter. What fortune it is for her to marry Yong’er! You as a mother-in-law are just too kind. Without tactics, how can one build a great family business?”
The Princess Consort hastily agreed.
The Old Madam’s gaze was cold and ruthless. She instructed the old woman beside her, “Go drag that wretched maid here. Don’t use the beating stick—replace it with a needle mat for her to kneel on. I still don’t believe she can withstand it!”
The old woman was still on the way to the storage room when Mo Zi had already received the news from A’Hao.
Hearing she would be made to kneel on a needle mat, she couldn’t help cursing.
“Someone who worships Buddha and prays to Guanyin all day long, instead of accumulating more merit, how can she be so vicious? A needle mat—you can’t just faint the moment you kneel on it. Damn it!” Looking around, looking around. Pad her knees with a book? It would fall while walking. Making a soft cushion to tie on—no time for that.
“A’Hao, do you have any fake death medicine or something like that?” She was out of options.
“…No.” She hadn’t researched that. A’Hao watched Mo Zi’s head turning this way and that, also looking around. “Otherwise, shall I still take Miss away to hide for now?”
“What did Qiu Sanniang say?” If she hid, it would be fleeing from guilt. Fleeing from guilt—she disdained doing that.
“She said for Miss to hold on until lunch.” From A’Hao’s observations last night, Qiu Sanniang and the three senior maids around her had not looked relaxed.
“Lunch? How long until then?” Locked in the room, Mo Zi couldn’t tell the time by the sun.
“Still half a shichen.” A’Hao’s face suddenly became alert, lowering her voice. “Miss, someone’s outside.”
“You hide.” Mo Zi also lowered her voice, gritting her teeth. “Half a shichen—then I’ll just tough it out. If I can’t take it, I’ll shout for help, and you must not hesitate—rush out to save me. Otherwise, I’m petty-minded and will seek revenge on you.”
“…” A’Hao was speechless and disappeared out the window.