Song Chuyi had been out of the palace for over ten days, but she still couldn’t find a suitable opportunity to have Qing Ying go out and contact Ma Yongfu and the others—Han Zhi’s people were watching far too closely. Not only at the Earl’s estate gates, but even near the Cui family residence by the Imperial City, there were many spies.

She’d always thought someone like Han Zhi should be a cold-blooded creature without feelings, but unexpectedly this time Han Zhi proved quite devoted. Wei Yan Jun’s death had truly enraged him.

Seeing her worry, Qing Ying couldn’t help feeling somewhat anxious herself. “Fourth Young Master will be departing from Shu soon. Having so few people following him is truly worrying, but those people are as alert as dogs. The moment there’s any movement here, we’re watched like hawks. A few days ago when I went with Nanny Xu to the Cui estate to deliver peach blossom shumai, they didn’t let it pass either.”

Song Chuyi returned the ink monkey in her hand to the bamboo tube, reaching out to hang the tube on the brush rack. After pondering for a long while, she asked, “Ma Yongfu and the others haven’t sent word to the Cui estate either?”

This group of people were all exceptionally shrewd. Logically, as long as there was the slightest opportunity, they’d seize it without letting go. But over ten days had already passed and there was still no movement at all. Could something really have happened?

Yet at the time they’d clearly scattered and run separately to escape. If something had happened, those who hadn’t been captured should have come to report. Unless Han Zhi had captured them all in one sweep.

This feeling of having every move watched and having to keep one’s tail tucked was truly awful. Song Chuyi’s fingers traced along the faint blue color barely visible on the celadon ribbed flower-mouth dish on the table, then suddenly she straightened up.

She couldn’t just sit here waiting for disaster. Never mind that she needed Ma Yongfu and those people for Song Yan’s side—even just to prevent Ma Yongfu and the others from falling into Han Zhi’s hands and causing greater calamity, she couldn’t take the risk.

“Prepare the carriage. I’m going to visit my uncle’s estate.”

Luyi was somewhat surprised. She looked at Qing Ying, then at Song Chuyi, hesitating. “Miss, shouldn’t we wait a few more days? Recently the Heir’s wife from Duke Yingguo’s estate has been visiting our house so frequently, and with all these matters outside, if we run into her it won’t be easy to explain.”

Recently, because He Shi had arranged Song Chumi’s marriage, her dealings with the Earl of Changning’s estate had become increasingly close. Although Old Madam Song didn’t favor her, she couldn’t very well embarrass her either, so she had to let her run to the estate again and again.

Her words had barely fallen when Bilian cheerfully poked her head in from outside, calling out to the miss with great joy. “Miss, the Heir’s wife from Duke Yingguo’s estate has arrived. Old Madam is asking you to come!”

Luyi spread both hands and spat at Bilian with some impatience. “Did she feed you or clothe you or something? Why do you make such a fuss every time she comes? We don’t see you being this attentive normally.”

Bilian’s eyes rolled around mischievously as she laughed, ultimately shrinking her head back out.

But Song Chuyi’s heart stirred—Bilian was a maid bought from outside with no connections. She’d recognized a laundry woman outside as her godmother, and because of this was especially short of spending money—her godmother embezzled severely, with more than half her monthly wages flowing into her godmother’s hands.

Therefore she was particularly fond of scheming for advantages and pushing herself forward. Even knowing that Song Yi was unwelcome with Song Chuyi, if she received rewards from Song Yi she dared display flowers Song Yi sent in the room. Last time in the garden she’d dared turn a blind eye and let Shen Qingrang climb up Zhuiyue Pavilion.

A maid who could be bought with money might perhaps be put to some use.

She beckoned Bilian inside, looking her up and down before asking with a smile, “Have you been outside the estate before?”

Maids bought from the countryside like this mostly didn’t like staying in the household at first. They enjoyed running around knowing which street corner had the best rouge and which shop had the most varied handkerchief patterns—they were generally familiar with all the routes.

Sure enough, Bilian’s eyes flashed with delight as she nodded eagerly. “When I was washing clothes with my godmother in the outer courtyard, I often went out shopping. I’m familiar with the whole area.”

She’d just been promoted to a second-class maid, supposedly because her needlework was truly exquisite, so in just four or five years she’d climbed to a second-class position and even entered Song Chuyi’s Guanju Courtyard.

Those who regularly attended Song Chuyi were the four—Qing Ying, Qing Tao, Luyi, and Ziyun. These few people going out would be far more conspicuous than Bilian.

Song Chuyi thought for a moment, then went with the flow and brought up Bilian’s godmother. “I’ve often heard of servants recognizing godmothers, but I’ve mostly heard the godmothers aren’t very good. If you run an errand outside for me and hire a carriage to go to my maternal uncle’s estate, how about I help you out?”

A smart maid knows how to read the situation. Bilian didn’t even think before quickly nodding in agreement. “To tell the truth, miss, before my family fell on hard times, my father was an escort. I’ve been all over the capital since I was small.”

She knew Song Chuyi’s weight in the Song family. Previously she’d felt that not one of the four head maids around Song Chuyi was dispensable, so she’d given up on climbing higher and instead looked to gather advantages here and there. But how could these petty gains compare to being a trusted person at Song Chuyi’s side? Now that Song Chuyi was willing to extend her leg for Bilian to embrace, how could she not hold on? She had to cling desperately.

Song Chuyi smiled slightly, then changed the topic. “But I must say the unpleasant words first—only you and I can know about this matter. If anyone besides the two of us finds out…”

Bilian could hear Song Chuyi’s meaning. Gripping her fists, cold sweat nearly breaking out, after thinking for a long while she finally made up her mind and nodded. “If anyone else finds out, this servant won’t want to live either.”

She was indeed a very clever maid who could distinguish what was important. It seemed her mouth wasn’t the type to babble everywhere either. Song Chuyi smiled and casually took a red gold bracelet from the desk, handing it over along with a bamboo tube. “The bracelet is for you. Deliver the bamboo tube to my maternal aunt.”

After Bilian took the items and left, Song Chuyi instructed Ziyun and Luyi, “You two prepare to go out as well. Go to Uncle’s place and deliver some boxes of pastries for me. Take several extra people when you leave.”

Han Zhi’s people weren’t omnipotent. After watching for so long, there would always be moments of laxness. Since there’d already been no movement for over ten days, their vigilance would have dropped considerably compared to before. At this time, having Luyi and Ziyun go create a disturbance and divert their attention, they wouldn’t be able to spare attention for the unremarkable Bilian—after all, the Earl of Changning’s estate had servants going out every day, if not forty or fifty then at least twenty or thirty. If they had to follow every single servant who went out, Han Zhi probably couldn’t afford the wages.