The carriage belonged to Prince Jing’s mansion. The driver was burly and tall, his large hands gripping the reins were well-maintained—not like those of a coachman, but rather like hands that wielded blades. The black gauze curtain was extremely dense, impossible to see inside.
Mo Zi’s foot that had been about to step forward moved aside two steps instead as she called instructions to Zan Jin behind her.
After Zan Jin left, she summoned A Hao and A Yue who were acting in the shadows and spoke with them for a while before finally stepping leisurely out the main gate.
The moment she appeared, the driver gave a light call.
The door curtain bulged outward, revealing a head that grinned at her—the expression somewhere between a smile and a cry. “Miss Mo Zi.”
“Qing Que?” Qing Que was Xiao San’s personal page boy. Mo Zi lowered her eyes—could it really be Qiu Sanniang wanting to see her?
“That’s me.” Qing Que’s facial expression didn’t change, his mouth opening strangely wide. “Today’s the Laba Festival, right? Third Master and Grandmother were drinking and thought of you, saying they haven’t seen you in so long. They had me come fetch you back to celebrate together.”
Mo Zi raised her eyes, smiling until they curved. “Qing Que, aren’t you talking nonsense?”
Qing Que seemed frightened, his eyes widening round as he stammered, “N-no. Grandmother… really misses you. Sister Hong Mei and the others are all attending to her and can’t leave, so Third Master sent me.”
“Who’s talking about that?” Mo Zi descended the steps and stood before the carriage, her eyes dark as night. “What do you mean ‘haven’t seen in so long’? Three days ago I got leave from Grandmother to stay at Bai He’s place until the end of the month.”
“Eh?” Qing Que didn’t know how to answer for a moment, finally somewhat deflated. “Was there such a thing? How come I never heard Third Master mention it?”
“I’m Grandmother’s dowry maid who only does rough work. Would leaving for a bit require great fanfare? As long as Grandmother permitted it, that’s all that matters.” Mo Zi still smiled slightly. “Grandmother probably forgot momentarily. Qing Que, help me convey a message—say Mo Zi will return to the mansion at month’s end.”
Hearing this, Qing Que grew anxious. “Mo Zi, what kind of logic is that? When the master calls you back, you should just go. Perhaps Grandmother remembered some urgent matter requiring you. Even if she truly forgot, you still must make the trip. How can I report back alone?” Having said this, he actually reached out to grab her.
Mo Zi stepped back.
The driver jumped down, blocking Mo Zi from behind.
Mo Zi remained calm. “Oh my, what’s this? Afraid I’ll run away? Qing Que, did you come to fetch me or kidnap me? This doesn’t seem right to me.”
Qing Que couldn’t smile anymore. Seeing no one around and the gate across the way tightly closed, he said, “Don’t ask so many questions. Just get in the carriage, otherwise we really will kidnap you.”
Mo Zi felt both arms clamped by the driver as her feet left the ground and he forcibly moved her toward the carriage. Her voice immediately rang out. “No need for such measures—I didn’t say I wouldn’t board.”
Qing Que ignored her, covering her mouth with one hand while his other hand grabbed her collar, calling softly into the carriage, “Quick, help.”
Mo Zi saw another pair of hands reach out from behind the cloth curtain. Three pairs of hands—one behind, two in front—pulled her into the carriage without effort. Before she could even open her mouth, a wad of cloth was stuffed in, and her hands were bound behind her back. Looking carefully, the other person in the carriage was none other than Jin Si’s godmother, her face full of sinister smiles directed at Mo Zi.
Though Mo Zi had grown suspicious upon seeing Prince Jing’s mansion carriage, actually seeing Jin Si’s person sitting inside still made her pause. On one hand she secretly cried out in dismay—she’d almost completely forgotten about Jin Si as a person. On the other hand, she found it strange and couldn’t fathom what scheme they were plotting. Kidnapping her to deal with Qiu Sanniang—what kind of tactic was that?
Her eyes swept coldly over Qing Que.
Qing Que felt guilty, mumbling, “Don’t blame me. I had no choice either.”
Jin Si’s godmother mocked his timidity. “Why fear her? She’s just a maid. Even if she died at our hands tonight, who would know we did it? There are so many people in Prince Jing’s mansion—checking them one by one would be useless. We’re following the old madam’s wishes. We’ll just say the wretched maid committed suicide from guilt—Third Madam will certainly only care about protecting those businesses outside and won’t dare make a peep.”
“The old madam only told us to bring her back for questioning. Surely we don’t need a dead person?” Qing Que shuddered, his face falling. “Besides, Third Master and Third Madam value Mo Zi quite highly. How could they possibly not make a sound if something happened?”
“Seeing your courage is too small, this old woman is just testing you. As for this maid…” Jin Si’s godmother twisted her mouth viciously. “Her life won’t last long. However, we must use her up before killing her. You needn’t lift a finger, boy.”
Mo Zi wanted to laugh, her cheeks bulging like a frog’s, unable to stretch her mouth corners.
The carriage raced swiftly toward Prince Jing’s mansion.
Just as Mo Zi was forcibly pulled into the carriage, three shadows—like ghosts, like light smoke—headed in three directions, no slower than the carriage.
Half a shichen later, the small east gate of Prince Jing’s mansion quietly opened. Two burly servant women who’d been waiting there propped up Mo Zi on left and right, walking southward. Qing Que ran off like smoke while Jin Si’s godmother led the way with a lantern.
One of the servant women, seeing Mo Zi quite quiet—neither making muffled sounds nor struggling everywhere—remarked, “This maid is as tough as Third Madam.”
Jin Si’s godmother spat. “She knows struggling is useless. Probably thinking about what’s happening in her mind, planning how to respond. Don’t be fooled by her well-behaved face. If we let her escape here and alert Third Madam, we’ll ruin the masters’ important matter and definitely won’t be able to escape punishment.”
The two servant women seemed somewhat wary of Jin Si’s godmother, so they forcefully gripped Mo Zi’s arms, quickly pulling her forward. They walked furtively, avoiding the busy main garden paths, taking detours through corridor small paths.
At a fork in the path, the three stopped to discuss.
“First Madam’s place has too many loose tongues, and she’s at odds with Third Madam—just waiting to see misfortune.” One servant woman said.
“So what?” Jin Si’s godmother feared nothing. Since they wanted to sweep Qiu Sanniang out the door, having others fanning flames from the side actually saved them some effort.
“When we two came out, the old madam instructed not to alarm others. We haven’t yet extracted words from this maid’s mouth. Even if we want to question Third Madam, we must have evidence—we can’t harm family harmony.” The other servant woman said, “Let’s go to Weifeng Residence. Second Master isn’t home these days anyway. The garden has long been locked—no idle people will wander about.”
Though Jin Si’s godmother wanted to make a scene throughout the mansion, she dared not disobey the old madam’s words. So she turned with the two women toward Weifeng Residence, walking along the corridor outside the garden wall.
Just as they were about to pass, lights suddenly blazed around the corner, accompanied by voices.
The three silently cursed their luck, looking for places to hide, but it was too late.
Jin Si’s godmother made a snap decision, gripping Mo Zi’s chin and saying viciously, “I’m untying you now. In a moment if you dare say a single word, those matters your mistress is hiding will become known throughout the mansion. If you stay quiet, perhaps the old madam will make a big matter small for Third Master’s sake.”
Make a big matter small? Mo Zi scoffed inwardly. Jin Si making a move this time had probably been planned long ago—would she truly seek only such an outcome?
“Did you hear clearly?” The woman’s fingernails nearly dug into Mo Zi’s flesh. “Otherwise, we’ll let people see you like this. I’ll say you were having illicit relations with someone, that we caught you red-handed and are taking you to the old madam for judgment.”
Mo Zi furrowed her brow. This woman kept such long nails specifically to torment junior maids—digging into flesh! But she wouldn’t show strength here. She had to see what sinister moves they’d make to know how to counter them. She nodded.
The two servant women immediately untied her ropes and pulled out the cloth blocking her mouth, yet still stood close beside her, secretly pinching her arms.
At least one thing could be confirmed—after this journey, bruises on her body and face would be inevitable.
“Are those people ahead from Weifeng Residence?” A male voice asked.
Jin Si’s godmother hastily answered, “No. We servants are from the old madam’s courtyard, handling matters at the old madam’s word, passing by Second Master’s place.”
Footsteps sounded as a group of seven or eight people approached. The first few were servants holding lanterns, followed closely by Xiao Wei’s personal attendant Yan Yan, then Xiao Wei and Xiao Man.
After Xiao Wei drew near, he saw Mo Zi at a glance. The willow-slender person was squeezed between two sturdy servant women, seemingly submissive with lowered brows, yet somehow different from the submissive manner he often saw.
“What matter did Grandmother have you handle?” Xiao Wei stopped before Mo Zi.
Mo Zi didn’t raise her head.
Jin Si’s godmother hadn’t expected Second Master to ask in such detail and was momentarily stunned, her eyeballs rolling left and right.
Xiao Wei observed this, his sword-like brows drawing together as he said sternly, “At this hour Grandmother should have retired long ago. You woman have shifty eyes and are definitely trying to fabricate an excuse. Speak the truth quickly!” Moreover, she looked very unfamiliar.
Jin Si’s godmother was frightened into a deep bow. “Tonight’s the Laba Festival—the old madam drank some wine and is enjoying card games. She knows this maid tends the bamboo grove and wants to ask about the grove.”
Mo Zi didn’t know whether to laugh. What kind of terrible excuse was this? She had better improvisation skills than that.
“Mo Zi, you speak.” Too lazy to listen to the woman’s complete nonsense, Xiao Wei called her by name.
Jin Si’s godmother and the two servant women clearly hadn’t anticipated Second Master knowing Mo Zi, their faces showing great shock.
Mo Zi raised her eyes to look at Xiao Er, saying not a word. She had no choice—someone had said if she spoke a single word, not only would Qiu Sanniang face misfortune, but they’d also wrongly accuse her of illicit relations.
Jin Si’s godmother gave an ingratiating smile. “Second Master, how can such a rough-work maid speak freely with you? One careless moment could cause offense. The old madam—”
“Mind your tongue. Whether I want to hear someone speak is for you, a servant woman, to decide? I’ve never seen you among Grandmother’s people. Which courtyard are you from?” Xiao Wei grew increasingly suspicious.
“This servant…” Jin Si’s godmother tried to mend the fold after the sheep were lost. “This servant is from Yonggu Studio. Third Madam said it was late and improper for the old madam to summon people, so she had this servant accompany Miss Mo Zi.”
“Mo Zi…” Xiao Wei wanted to hear her speak.
“Second Master has returned?”
The door of Weifeng Residence opened. Young maids holding painted lanterns, followed by Lu Bi and Hong Luo, emerged to pay respects.
Wei Liu stood at the threshold, holding a golden-feathered cloak in her hands, wearing a slight smile.
This was the first time Mo Zi had seen her since Wei Liu entered Weifeng Residence. She’d lost a ring of weight but looked even better—her originally cool temperament now possessed a pitiable fragility.
Look at this man—not even through the door yet and a pile of young wives coming out to welcome him. Mo Zi glanced over once, lowering her head with a slight shake.
“Young Master Xian has come too? Quickly come in. I’ll have the kitchen prepare some dishes to go with wine immediately. Hong Luo, have someone warm up Hui Pavilion so the masters can comfortably drink and talk.”
For a moment there was solicitous concern—truly enjoying the blessings of having multiple wives.
At this juncture, under Jin Si’s godmother’s “valiant” direction, Mo Zi was propped up by others and turned the corner.