Cai Fu gave Song Xiang’s handkerchiefs to Jin Chao, who compared them with the Hangzhou white crepe handkerchief.

She was especially skilled in embroidery and immediately recognized they were embroidered by the same person.

The handkerchief was indeed Song Xiang’s gift to Manager Zhao, and the two had probably been secretly involved for quite some time. Song Xiang had originally planned to marry Manager Zhao. Although Manager Zhao already had a wife, at least he was handsome and managed the latrines.

Cai Fu told Jin Chao everything she heard outside the rear room. “Your servant sees that Miss Song Xiang doesn’t have a kind heart. But I don’t understand—Miss Song Xiang had feelings for Manager Zhao. How could she now be so interested in Manager Lei’s scholar son…”

Jin Chao smiled. A clever person like Song Xiang, when able to climb to a higher branch, why pick up something unwanted?

Looking at the handkerchief in her hand, she was still thinking about how to tell Madam Feng about this matter. Directly telling her wouldn’t work; it would be best if Madam Feng discovered it herself… Jin Chao suddenly had an idea.

She called Tong Mama in and asked her: “That little maid from the east wing who helps Song Xiang deliver things, can you find her?”

Tong Mama nodded: “That matron has been secretly watching and can recognize the maid’s appearance.”

Jin Chao then gave the white crepe handkerchief embroidered with peonies to Tong Mama and instructed: “Find this maid and bribe her to put the item back in its original place. Then have her deliver a message to Xu Houcai, saying the item is from Song Xiang to him. Tell him that Miss Song Xiang from the Old Madam’s side has always liked him, and she wishes to invite him to the east wing to talk…”

Tong Mama was somewhat bewildered. The Young Miss’s words… she didn’t quite understand.

Jin Chao explained: “This is a perfect plan to kill two birds with one stone. Doesn’t Xu Houcai think our Qing Pu isn’t good enough for him? Then let’s find someone who is.”

Tong Mama thought for a moment before understanding Gu Jin Chao’s meaning, but was still slightly confused: “Young Miss, what if… what if the Old Madam discovers this and asks questions? What if the little maid exposes us?”

Jin Chao smiled and said: “Isn’t this what she was already doing? You just need to threaten her that if she doesn’t obey, you’ll report to Grandmother about her delivering messages for Song Xiang. She’ll surely comply. After she helps with this, give her a bag of silver as compensation.”

Only then did Tong Mama fully understand, smiling as she acknowledged and left.

Xu Houcai was supervising grooms adding fodder for the horses, cursing: “Adding so much wheat bran to the hay, do you think wheat bran costs nothing? It’s not even feeding time yet; add more hay instead…” After scolding the grooms, Xu Houcai sat down and took a sip of wine to warm himself. The weather was getting colder; even wearing a thin cotton jacket wasn’t enough to keep warm. Xu Houcai casually pulled out a few wheat stalks, rolled them up, and stuffed them inside his cotton jacket for additional warmth.

A groom came to tell him that a little maid from the east wing was looking for him.

Xu Houcai thought it was about the marriage arrangement and was reluctant to go. He dawdled for a long time before finally going outside the stable. The little maid with double buns complained when she saw him: “Why did you take so long! Miss Song Xiang has business with you!”

Miss Song Xiang? Xu Houcai certainly knew her—she was Madam Feng’s favored maid. This perked him up, and he asked the maid: “What business does Miss Song Xiang have with me? Is it an order from the Old Madam?”

The maid seemed anxious to leave and lowered her voice: “Miss Song Xiang asked me to tell you that she admires you and wants you to visit her in the east wing. She’ll be off duty the day after tomorrow… She also has something to give you, which she’s placed in the crevice of the Taihu rock outside. Go find it yourself!”

The maid ran off like a gust of wind after speaking. Xu Houcai was stunned by her words. That Song Xiang, who served by the Old Madam’s side, who was usually too proud to even look at people like him—she admired him? And wanted to talk to him?

He had heard that Song Xiang was betrothed to a manager’s son from the Third Master’s household. Could it be that now that she was getting married, she wanted to express her feelings to him?

Xu Houcai couldn’t help but smile. To have a beautiful maid with high standards like Song Xiang admire him—how could he not be flattered? He straightened his cotton jacket and hurried to find the Taihu rock outside, indeed discovering a white crepe handkerchief inside. The handkerchief was fragrant and embroidered with a cluster of roses. Such quality material was not something ordinary maids could use.

Xu Houcai held the handkerchief to his nose and sniffed it with an intoxicated expression before tucking it into his bosom. He felt quite proud. He didn’t like Qing Pu, but Miss Song Xiang was a beauty. It was a pity she was engaged to someone else… but as long as she wasn’t married yet, they still had a chance.

On the appointed day, Xu Houcai personally delivered items meant for the east wing.

Jin Chao was in the west side room listening to Madam Feng recite Buddhist scriptures. Gu Lan and Gu Lian were also listening nearby, though Gu Lian was drowsy and struggling to keep her eyes open.

Gu Lan glanced at Gu Jin Chao. A few days ago, she had sent her a pair of Hetian jade paperweights… what did that mean?

Gu Jin Chao must be trying to say something by choosing white jade paperweights. Could it be that she knew about her and Young Master Yao… but how could that be possible? Gu Lan had been restless for days, constantly thinking about this matter, yet she couldn’t discern anything from Gu Jin Chao’s behavior…

Today Gu Jin Chao had persuaded Madam Feng to invite them to listen to her recite scriptures. Madam Feng was quite pleased—it was always good for young ladies to cultivate themselves.

Gu Lan didn’t see Song Xiang serving Madam Feng; she must be off duty… She looked around but also didn’t see Qing Pu behind Gu Jin Chao.

After a while, a maid came to report: “…Manager Xu has delivered some items. Your servant has placed them in the west wing room.”

Madam Feng frowned: “Why did he come to deliver them personally…”

After finishing the remaining Buddhist verses, Madam Feng smiled and said to Jin Chao: “It’s been several days now, and I don’t know if your Qing Pu has taken a liking to Manager Xu. Since he’s here today, why not let Qing Pu go see him again? If it’s agreeable, we can settle the matter.”

As she spoke, Madam Feng noticed that Qing Pu was no longer behind Gu Jin Chao.

She asked with some confusion: “Wasn’t Qing Pu just here? Where has she gone…”

Gu Jin Chao quickly said: “Perhaps she had to relieve herself. Grandmother, don’t worry about her. Please continue reciting another volume of the Diamond Sutra for us!”

Gu Lan glanced at Gu Jin Chao. She felt Gu Jin Chao was being overly anxious about this matter. Qing Pu had gone out—why was she in such a hurry to cover for her? Could it be… Qing Pu had secretly gone to meet someone, to meet Xu Houcai?

Gu Lan smiled and said: “I heard Manager Xu has arrived, and Miss Qing Pu has disappeared. Perhaps she went to see him herself! Grandmother, why don’t we go watch the excitement? Elder Sister hasn’t agreed yet, but maybe they’ve taken a liking to each other!”

Gu Lian also urged: “Let’s go see. It’s a good chance to get some fresh air!” The Buddhist scriptures were making her dizzy.

Gu Jin Chao looked troubled. After a moment’s hesitation, she said: “I sent Qing Pu to get some refreshments… she… she’ll be back soon.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Lan became even more convinced. “Elder Sister just said she went to relieve herself, now you say she went for refreshments. I think Elder Sister is intentionally preventing us from going to see…” She took Madam Feng’s arm and smiled, “Grandmother, we can’t let Elder Sister have her way!”

Madam Feng smiled: “Jin Chao, really now. If the maid has gone to see the man herself, what are you embarrassed about?”

She asked Lan’er and Lian’er to get up and go for a walk outside. Gu Jin Chao had no choice but to follow them out.

Madam Feng asked a little maid, who told her Xu Houcai had gone to the rear room. She then led Gu Jin Chao and the other two, along with a crowd of maids and matrons, to the rear room. There were no maids in the rear room at this time. Madam Feng looked around but didn’t see Xu Houcai. Just as she was about to call someone, she heard a woman’s voice from the small thicket next to the rear room: “What… what are you doing… let go!”

Madam Feng sensed something was wrong and her expression darkened. She stepped forward with her maids and matrons. The matrons immediately parted the thicket and saw Xu Houcai inside, pulling on a young woman’s hand, urgently shouting: “You ungrateful woman, now you’re pretending not to know me! Do you think I’m easily fooled?”

The person he was pulling wasn’t Qing Pu, but Song Xiang!

Madam Feng shouted sternly: “Xu Houcai, how dare you harass a maid in the east wing!”

Only then did the two notice the people standing outside the thicket. They immediately stopped struggling and let go of each other.

Madam Feng shouted again: “Ill-mannered creatures, what are you standing there for? Come out and kneel! Explain what’s going on!”

These two were pulling and pushing each other in the east wing, in front of so many people. Madam Feng felt utterly humiliated. If Xu Houcai was merely harassing a maid, that would be one thing, but if these two had been secretly involved, where could she put her face?

The maids and matrons who had followed didn’t dare make a sound. Gu Lian and Gu Lan were also very surprised. They had come to see Qing Pu, but how had it become Song Xiang meeting privately with Xu Houcai?

The two knelt on the ground, heads lowered, saying nothing. Madam Feng coldly glared at Xu Houcai, then softened her voice and asked Song Xiang first: “Tell me, what exactly is going on?”

Song Xiang quickly kowtowed and cried: “Report to the Old Madam, it’s all that filthy creature Xu Houcai’s fault! Your servant was off duty today. He entered the rear room and insisted on pulling your servant into the thicket, saying he wanted to talk, then started pulling and touching! He just wanted to take advantage of your servant!”

When Xu Houcai heard this, he couldn’t tolerate it anymore and loudly refuted: “You deceitful woman! You invited me here, saying you liked me. Otherwise, why would I come to the east wing to harass you? Would I not fear being beaten by the guards?”

Madam Feng coldly snorted: “I haven’t asked you to speak yet. Be quiet!”

Xu Houcai quickly kowtowed again. He took out a handkerchief from his bosom and presented it to Madam Feng: “Old Madam, please look. This is what that woman Song Xiang gave me. She said she liked me. Please see if it’s true—don’t wrongly accuse me!”