126
"Sir Wei, why is your face filled with sorrow, as if you are reluctant to part with your Highness?" Mu Xi Yao had a lotus leaf soup arranged in front of her that she slowly stirred with a spoon. The stiff expression on Wei Zhen's face made her gloat. Zong Zhenglin called him over this morning to receive his orders. See, now the person was standing in front of her, his expression all cautious. Was she scary?
"Mistress, if there's something just tell this subordinate. This subordinate will do his utmost to accomplish the errand, even at the cost of this subordinate's life."
Wei Zheng's heart was agitated. It was his great regret that his Highness didn't take him to Shu Zhong to put down the revolt. Unexpectedly, his Highness sent him to mistress Yao's side and had him take her assignments. Was this because his Highness has noticed that he was having a good laugh at his master in private and hence had mistress Yao to sort him out?
Upon hearing mistress Yao asking him a question, no matter how courageous Wei Zhen was, he didn't dare to say that he felt that being around cefei was even more terrifying than the glint of knives and flash of swords that arose at his Highness's side. If he wants to live a peaceful life, currying favor with mistress Yao will be inevitable. He could only go against his conscience and firmly declare where he stood.
As he recalled the servants who run errands for mistress Yao, it seemed that not many could escape the punishment from his Highness. Last time, Ye Kai was fixed so badly that his legs were still trembling even after five days. Even those two girls serving cefei have received punishment. Since it was his turn this time, no matter what he mustn't slack off. He mustn't let his Highness find fault with him. What's more, he mustn't let mistress Yao play her tricks and disappear somewhere.
"Tell the shadow guard to go and ask the third miss of Mu Household whether that note is still in her hands. If she did not destroy it, be sure to bring it back." It'd be best if she didn't burn it. If she did, she would have to fabricate one.
"At the same time, present qie a thorough report about the situation in Lantai and Zhuyin Courtyards. Try to take into accounts all matters whether important or trivial and be as detailed as possible. Include in your report all the servants, patios, trees, and plants, whatever you can gather regardless of its importance. The information must be accurate." Although the inner yard was big if she had the shadow guards focus on the two courtyards that she paid attention to, their job would be easier.
"Mistress, if It has to be done this thorough, this subject fears that it'll take day or two."
"Withdraw the people from the other courtyards. Just keep a close eye on Lantai and Zhuyin Courtyards."
Although Wei Zhen did not understand the mistress's confidence and the order to withdraw the people from other places, he did not dare to slight his mistress and hence quickly agreed. Just as he was going to retreat, Mu Xi Yao's last instruction made him so shocked his brain couldn't work properly.
"Wei Zhen, release the news that the trail of the contact of the rebel faction inside the prince's residence has been found. The chief steward is speeding up the investigation. Only two-three days are needed for the truth to come to light."
Mu Xi Yao always got big guts. After this false news spread, she'd like to see whether there will be someone with a guilty conscience in this inner yard full of women.
—
"Are you saying that Mu'shi has found out who is making a disorder?" He Lian Min Min was shocked by the news from Chu Tan. How could she found the clues so quickly? Didn't his Highness say that no clues have been discovered yet? She moved so fast. If she truly captured the rebel, Mu'shi's prestige would be even harder to suppress.
"Momo, arrange the departure immediately." Mu Xi Yao knew not her place. She had no other choice but to speed her pace.
—
"Mistress, the principal consort He Lian took her people and left. She has probably gone to He Lian residence." Wei Zhen promptly reported her.
Mu Xi Yao was caught off guard. Why did this woman hurry to go back to her parental home? What she was waiting for wasn't news from the Chanruo Courtyard.
"You needn't worry about the principal consort. The contact won't be from her courtyard." The people in He Lian Min Min's courtyard were all swapped with her own trusted aids. If she was as muddle-headed as to lack a perceptiveness then wouldn't be He Lian clan's impressive prestige a laughing stock for grooming such a daughter? Besides, this hidden chess piece wasn't hiding for a day or two. To be able to pry out her many habits from details, she must have stayed in the inner yard for a long while. How long was it since He Lian Min Min entered the residence?
Since she left the residence at this time, she must have something else to do. Daring to do so before Zhong Zheng Lin's departure, could it be that the old fox He Lian Zhang wanted to personally instruct her on the line of action to pursue?
After briefing Wei Zhen on the matters, she continued to enjoy her comfortable days in the Danruo Courtyard. As for the sixth Highness, she only needed to remember to deliver him refreshments on time. That man has been so busy for the past two days that his feet did not touch the ground. He, indeed, worked hard.
—
"Father." He Lian Min Min greeted He Lian Zhang in a careful and timid fashion.
"You came." Sir He Lian put down the scroll he was reading. He lifted his head and sized up this eldest di daughter of his whom he had originally placed high hopes. She wasn't much different from before she married. Just, the pride between her brows and eyes1 has diminished a lot.
"Was his Highness angry at you for overstepping the boundaries?" He Lian Zhang admonished frankly.
He Lian Min Min's complexion did not look good. She answered honestly, "His Highness wasn't openly angry, he merely reprobated daughter in private."
He Lian Zhang's pupil shrunk. Was this because his Highness treated her with leniency or was he just being particularly courteous? He was afraid that the latter was more plausible.
She was the principal wife, yet she was unable to keep his Highness's heart. That being the case, she can only choose to increase her honor through her son's position. His Highness was not someone that the likes of the first prince could compare to. His prospects were found to be excellent. Yuancheng Emperor's attitude toward the crown prince is turning increasingly indifferent. Perhaps, one day he will depose the crown prince and appoint someone else. As for the remaining candidates, He Lian Zhang regarded the sixth prince Zhong Zheng Lin as the most promising one.
"Try to recommend the younger generation of the He Lian Household to see whether it would make his Highness take them as his subordinates." The Mobei war which will follow after this trip to Shu Zhong was the true golden opportunity of a lifetime. The He Lian Household's forces in the army were too weak compared to their forces in the court. If this continues, without a stable foundation, their great mansion would be on the verge of collapse2.
"Father, this….his Highness doesn't like people meddling in the political affairs." Zhong Zheng Lin's study was off-limits to the womenfolk, except for that doxy who uses her son as an excuse for seeking the favor.
"The older brother of Mu'shi nowadays works for the capital's Office of the Military Inspectorate which is run by his Highness. He holds the title of the sixth rank secondary class garrison company commander." He has gained a firm foothold in the army at such a young age. Without Mu'shi's help, He Lian Zhang could not think of how could that Mu Jin Zhi with a personality of a soldier accomplish that.
He Lian Min Min's heart clenched. Was father implying that her means fell short to Mu'shi and that she couldn't obtain a benefit for He Lian Household?
"As soon as daughter goes back, daughter will talk about it with his Highness." She had to comply, otherwise He Lian Household will treat her as useless chess.
He Lian Zhang stroke his beard, his gaze was intense, "If Min Min finds it difficult, Wei Rui can take time out to help you." These two daughters of his, no matter which of them, as long as they could make He Lian Household prosper, even if he had to resort to feeding them poison, he He Lian Zhang won't think twice about it.
He Lian Min Min's face froze. Her nails sunk deeply into the flesh.
"Don't entertain yourself with any thoughts about Mu'shi's unborn child. Empress dowager went to Anguo Temple to offer incense yesterday. The great master the head monk has pointed to her that Mu'shi's unborn child was divined to enjoy both the felicity and longevity. It's extremely auspicious." He Lian Zhang sighed inwardly about the impressiveness of Mu'shi's fate. No ordinary person can move her.
"Your mother invited you a medical momo who served the late dowager consort. Take her back to build your health and give birth to di son as soon as possible." He Lian Zhang waved his hand indicating her to retreat. He stared at the spread-out file in front of him with slightly furrowed brows.
In the end, this di daughter of his was a little weak. She couldn't handle Mu'shi. If it was an ordinary person, it'd be nothing much. Watching over her children and passing her days steadily would be sufficient. But, if it was the sixth Highness's residence, the principal wife position, princely heir….these things which were extremely likely to turn into revered statuses, she had to firmly occupy them!
He Lian Min Min did not expect that they'd arrange medical momo for her before she even mentioned the issue. For a moment, she was pleasantly surprised. Since there was the capable servant of dowager consort to assist her, producing an heir should be a bit easier.
—
"Mistress, there's no movement from Lantai and Zhuyin Courtyards." Wei Zhen was deeply puzzled. Mistress Yao has only instructed him to keep a tight watch over the courtyards and nothing else.
"Don't be impatient. Wait after the news tomorrow and then make the final conclusion." When you boil an eagle, you need to have patience. One mustn't be impetuous when pulling a snake from its hole3.
Translation notes:
[1] Between brows and eyes is a phrase referred to one's appearance, looks, countenance
[2] Great mansion on the verge of collapse is a Chinese idiom referring to a hopeless situation
[3] Pull snake from its hole is a Chinese idiom which means to expose a malefactor
127
"Mistress, cefei sent people to guard those two courtyards you have ordered this servant to keep a close watch on." Zhu Jin reported back to Wan Jing Wen in hesitation.
"When did it happen?" Wan Jing Wen frowned. How could it be so coincidental?
"This servant received the news as soon as sir Wei came out of Danruo Courtyard early this morning."
It shouldn't be. In the previous life, lady Mu was only a concubine. When the incident with the rebels happened, she was already gravely ill. Afterward, she muddled along without any aim like a good-for-nothing. She has never risen to prominence nor fallen from grace. She didn't even have a capable maidservant around her so it wasn't possible for her to know these things in such detail.
Could it be that she wasn't reborn and instead was like her, reincarnated to someone else with the memories of the previous life? In that case, who is she?
Wan Jing Wen kept guessing about Mu Xi Yao's identity over and over. The more she contemplated the more confused she was. Nothing made sense. In the end, she began to question whether she made a mistake. Was Mu Xi Yao none of the harem women from her memories?
Wan Jing Wen found that all of her experiences from the previous life would change as long as they were related to Mu Xi Yao. Nowadays, many things changed beyond recognition. And the memories she relied on, apart from being able to deal with lady He Lian, they didn't work on Mu Xi Yao.
"Mistress, cefei has started to pay attention to those two courtyards now. Should we quickly withdraw our people?" Zhu Jin felt that ever since she followed her mistress, she never experienced so many times that matters had to be left unfinished. Since entering the prince's residence, the mistress's several plans had to be chopped in half at the waist. If this continues, she feared that things will not go well.
As Wan Jing Wen recalled the information she received in the past few days, except for the servant girl who had an illicit relationship with a manservant from the outer courtyard, there were no other valuable clues. Now that Mu Xi Yao made a move, could she be more competent than her?
She'd like to see how capable was that woman who was weird no matter how she thought about her. "We bide our time. Tell them to play their parts and not give themselves away." From the start, this thing had nothing to do with her. Her people will remain there. If they receive the news immediately after something happens, wouldn't it be even better? As for lady He Lian that woman, did she truly think that since she was surrounded by her trusted aids, she will be absolutely safe? She better forget about sleeping soundly and living without worries!
—
"Your Highness, the climate in Shuzhong is hot and humid. You have to protect yourself against poisonous insects in summer. Also, you have to stay far away from that witchcraft and gu worm1 something." Mu Xi Yao deliberately read several books that introduced Shuzhong. After reorganising the messy thoughts in her mind, she was now folding her fingers and carefully explaining to Zhong Zheng Lin matters involving traveling.
The sixth Highness lazily leaned against the daybed. As he watched the little woman's seriousness, a smile appeared in his phoenix eyes.
He finally managed to tame a bit the rabbit. She no longer packed up the baggage as if doing her duty and merely attended to him as a cefei.
Just as Zhong Zheng Lin was sighting about Mu Xi Yao being hard to deal with, he heard the little woman exclaim. She abruptly raised a serious issue.
"Your Highness," Mu Xi Yao's beautiful eyes widened, "does the tribe of sorcerers in Shuzhong have something like a holy maiden? Will there be some secret black spell such as a spell that is able to control one's soul or other strange sorceries? Is it possible that they will recite a few spells in front of you and you will lose your memories and forget about qie?"
The last sentence was the main point. She often heard Zhong Zheng Lin mention secret spells and medicine of Shuzhong. Mu Xi Yao worried that a mere Holy Spirit Pill couldn't save the life of the boss. Since there existed something like an evil cult, she better take precautions in advance.
Otherwise, if boss chanced upon a memory loss like in the melodrama, she the favored consort would have to start to fight anew, wouldn't she? Wouldn't it be like killing her? Isn't it tiring, to start "love you after marriage" when you already had a child together?
If his Highness brought back a holy maiden to play a white lotus flower2. and "life savior", Mu Xi Yao thought that she could say goodbye to a comfortable life.
As Zhong Zheng Lin watched her staring at him and demanding an answer in such an earnest fashion, he was suddenly in a great mood.
"Jiao Jiao is again indulging in flights of fancy. At this point, the tribe of sorcerers is left only with a reputation. They are able to predict a bit the change of weather and the grain growing. The holy maiden of the sorcerer tribe was never heard of. The great sorcerer of the sorcerer tribe was an old woman.
As for worrying that bendian will forget Jiao Jiao, that's truly a groundless fear. Didn't Jiao Jiao say that you're bendian's dearest3.? How can bendian lose bendian's own heart?" Zhong Zheng Lin became more delighted as he spoke. He got up, took her into his arms, and planted a kiss on her soft and pink cheek. He stroked the top of her head while thinking that the little woman was truly adorable. "Jiao Jiao needn't be so awkward. It's unavoidable for a woman to be embarrassed for making a request on parting."
Mu Xi Yao's chin was clasped by him and slowly she was immersed in a deep kiss. She was very resentful inside. The sixth Highness was talking to himself. His imagination was always filled with only one kind of thought: going only along to his wishes and ignoring the rest.
Did she mean what the boss thought of? This man's skin was as thick as a brick. What's more, a gold brick. He was pretty narcissistic. If it wasn't for fear of him meeting an accident, she would peacefully live a leisure life in the courtyard and not bother with the stinky man.
"Tomorrow, bendian will leave early. Jiao Jiao shall not get up and see bendian off." Zhong Zheng Lin hugged her and kneaded her soft earlobe. He was reluctant to have little woman get up early and go through such fuss.
Mu Xi Yao pulled down his hand and stuffed her little hand into his palm. She closed her eyes and fell off sweetly.
Zhong Zheng Lin embraced her waist and tightened his arms slightly. The emotions he felt inside his heart were beyond words. This woman usually was unwilling to say any affectionate words. But, her detail-oriented side made one's heart skip a throb. Seeing her peaceful sleeping face, for the first time ever, Zhong Zheng Lin was somewhat not used to it. After tomorrow, the little woman won't be by his side. He will be sleeping alone each night. How did he handle those previous days?
For the first time in his life, the sixth Highness felt that he was a little soft. A feeling of "hating to part" arose in him. It totally disagreed with his usual firm and decisive style.
He took a look at the little woman who was sleeping soundly. There was no trace of distress or sadness on her face. Zhong Zheng Lin gnashed his teeth hatefully. Since meeting him, the one behaving unusually has been always him. This little white-eyed wolf4., on the contrary, lived comfortably.
Propping up his body, he planted a kiss on Mu Xi Yao's cheek and then finally set his mind at rest and went to sleep. When he returns back to the capital, it should be Cheng Qing's first-year celebration5.. He has to bring a good gift to his son.
—
Early in the next morning, the women from the inner yard all came led by He Lian Min Min. The only one absent was Mu cefei from Danruo Courtyard who never paid attention to the etiquette.
Since they were sending Zhong Zheng Lin off, the eyes of the present women were filled with their reluctance to part with him. The atmosphere was quiet. Only one person was ecstatic, looking affectionately at Zhong Zheng Lin.
"Elder cousin!" Zeng Yu rushed over and grabbed the end of Zhong Zheng Lin's sleeve with teary eyes as if she was about to faint.
She was finally out of confinement. As soon as she got out, she learned that Zhong Zheng Lin was going to Shuzhong to put down the rebellion. Her cousin was going to exchange blows with real swords and spears6.. This was absolutely an outrage!
"Elder cousin, wouldn't it better for his Majesty to change it to the crown prince to head to Shuzhong and you stay in Shengjing? The crown prince was the heir to the Great Wei. Aren't these things exactly what he should be handling?"
He Lian Min Min's expression changed. As expected, his Highness's face darkened.
"He Lian'shi, discipline her properly." Once these words fell, he ruthlessly flicked his sleeve and called the servant to lead the horse to him.
"Elder cousin!" Zeng Yu sobbed while hurriedly taking a few steps forward. She still bewailed, "I'm just worried about your wellbeing. Why do you dislike it so much? You're holding that Mu'shi dear in your heart like a treasure and what is the result? She didn't come to see you off at all. She completely disregards you!"
Zhong Zheng Lin suddenly turned around, a cold light gleaming in his phoenix eyes. Time after time, this foolish woman provoked his anger. This time, she broke his big taboo. It was no one's business to clamor about Mu Xi Yao's feelings for him.
Zhong Zheng Lin who cared deeply about Mu Xi Yao's feelings allowed no outsiders to sow discord that would spoil the two's relationship.
"Tian Fu Shan, send her to the Qingyun Temple to meditate. If mother consort asks, report to her what she said just now."
After mounting a horse, Zhong Zheng Lin gave He Lian Min Min last instruction: "Take good care of the residence" and then kicked the horse and left.
Yan Cheng Zhou brought along the guards. The group consisted of more than one hundred and fifty members who marched in a majestic manner. They were wearing bright armors, divided into two rows and following Zhong Zheng Lin's fast pace. The dust that arose by them also seemed to be enveloped by the air of war.
"Chief steward, do as his Highness ordered." He Lian Min Min cast a gaze at Zeng Yu, as if looking at a madwoman. She then took the rest of the people to the main house to use a meal.
Since appearing, Zeng Yu showed no bright side of hers. As soon as she spoke, she was bound to stir his Highness's anger. Ordinary people lacked such an ability. Yet, she wanted to compete with Mu Xi Yao with such a crazy personality. What else was it if not wishful thinking?
Nowadays, she even shot her mouth off, daring to make impertinent remarks about his Majesty and the crown prince. Did she wish the whole residence to receive punishment together with her?
Tian Fu Shan dragged the crying and kicking woman down, tied her, and sent her to Qingyun Temple. This was his second time taking the lady cousin to receive punishment. This errand wasn't easy at all.
The Qingyun Temple was rumored to be the most impoverished and the harshest temple in Shengjing. The women that were taken in were all spurned by their husband's family. They were sent to receive strict discipline and rework themselves. Not only was living there full of hardships, there were also monks who checked their assignments each day. Anyone who did not follow the rules would be beaten by the cane. They never treated women with leniency. Every ten days, the women had to visit people and commit good deeds. If they dared to turn their back on the tasks and not do the best of their abilities, they would be deprived of food for three days as punishment, making them so hungry till their legs and feet would go soft.
The most dreadful thing was the nuns' discipline. If one didn't listen to their teaching and failed the examination, they would be sent to the critter courtyard in the back garden. Only when they learnt the obedience they could not be accompanied by beasts.
Although his Highness was indifferent to women, he was never ruthless toward them. Now, the lady cousin was sent over there. She will have a hard time there with her spoilt temper.
"There is actually a place like Qingyun Temple in the capital?" Mu Xi Yao stared at Wei Zhen with curiosity.
A cold shiver run down sir Wei's spine upon her gauging. Shoot! Mistress Yao had such a fondness of troublemaking. He absolutely mustn't pique her interest in that place.
"Mistress, Qingyun Temple was specially established for those ascetic monks and noblewomen who made mistakes. No meat diet is offered inside. What's more, several womenfolk who were confined there were driven crazy."
As soon as Mu Xi Yao heard that the place offered no good Buddhist food and it was filled with resentful women, she immediately lost interest.
Wei Zhen secretly thought that it was a close call. If mistress Yao went there…he dared not to imagine his Highness's face.
"What's the situation over there?" Mu Xi Yao placed the note Wei Zhen brought back on the table, put the pieces together, and examined them carefully.
"Third miss was put into the house arrest by his fifth Highness. Her maidservant was sent to the laundry room to run errands as punishment. When the shadow guard went there, shufei's complexion looked good. She was sitting by herself and dazing."
She still got the energy to daze? In other words, her days weren't too bad. Otherwise, she wouldn't have the mood to sit quietly. Well, let her slowly think about it. If she doesn't learn her lesson, the inner yard will, sooner or later, become her burial ground.
"Is there no movement in the inner yard?" Mu Xi Yao picked up the shredded papers. She carefully put them into her pouch and handed them to Hui Lan to keep it temporarily for her. These shredded papers could drove the final nail in some people's coffin.
"The two courtyards are very quiet. The womenfolk almost don't go out at all." Wei Zhen replied truthfully.
"Their mind is surprisingly calm. They want to watch the way the wind is blowing7., don't they? Fluke is unacceptable. Many times, the more one takes chances the more disappointed one is bound to be. In that case, let her take a closer look." Mu Xi Yao supported herself with Mo Lan's hand and stood up.
"Take the guards and have them surround Lantai and Zhuyin Courtyards. No one is allowed to enter or leave without permission. Tomorrow afternoon, the concubines of the two courtyards will be one by one investigated in Danruo Courtyard. If they dare to violate the order, report it to the principal consort. They will be punished with domestic discipline."
Translation notes:
[1] Gu worm is a legendary venomous insect often used in black magic practices (for more information click here)
[2] White lotus flower is a Chinese phrase used to describe a woman who pretends to be weak
[3] Dearest in Chinese is written as "心尖尖" which means the apex of heart hence when ZZL spoke about losing his heart he was also referring to this "心尖尖" apex of the heart
[4] White-eyed wolf refers to someone ungrateful
[5] A first-year celebration is an important custom on a child's first birthday where parents place an assortment of articles in front of their child, and the child is supposed to choose from the articles (for more information click here)
[6] Real swords, real spears is a Chinese idiom that means very much for real
[7] The way the wind is blowing is a phrase referring to trends/how things are developing
128
"Mistress, cefei has encircled the courtyard!" The little servant girl panicked, her face as pale as paper.
"Impossible. The news over there was already severed. We have also cleaned all our tracks in the residence. How can she still have leads?" The woman's eyes were filled with hesitation. Her initial confidence started to shake a bit.
Just as the mistress and servant girl were harboring all kinds of suspicions, a steward outside came in to pass a message saying that cefei will be interrogating people in the courtyard one by one tomorrow afternoon.
As soon as the steward left, the servant girl was trembling with fear, even her voice was shaking. "Mistress, since there will be an interrogation tomorrow, could it be that cefei has some evidence in her hand?"
"What's there to be terrified of! She's merely taking people for little questioning. Don't tell me that she can interrogate them under torture and export a confession from them."
"As long as you stay cool, without any proof, what can she do to you? You've just to refuse to admit any allegations. You've been hiding in the residence for so many years, and the things you've done were also done in an extremely confidential fashion. Nobody has ever taken notice of you. This time, you will, too, be able to turn misfortune into blessing and manage through this smoothly. If you dare to make any careless mistake tomorrow during the investigation, do you know of consequences? The lives of your old man, mother, and the whole family, are all in the hands of his lordship. Even if things were revealed, you have to resist and find a random person to serve as your scapegoat!"
The little servant girl slumped on the ground with a thud. Her lips were trembling.
Mistress was the secret chess meticulously groomed by the rebel faction. She only became aware of this after attending to her for a year. Her greed was to be blamed. She had accepted mistress's huge bribe and often handled things for her in private. Later, she accidentally learnt that mistress was using her to pass the information to the outside of the residence. The other party wasn't a good person either. Although she was extremely afraid and regretful, she was already deeply stuck in the swamp and was unable to free herself.
When mistress came to her to lay her card on the table and used her family's life to blackmail her, she finally realised she was already riding a tiger and it was hard to get off1. She had to stick to the end. Since then, she became a pawn in her mistress's hand. It seems that her retribution was coming.
"Mistress, if things come to the worst, this servant is willing to take the charges. This servant just asks mistress to plead his lordship on this servant's behalf, so that this servant's family can preserve their lives." The little servant girl used all of her strength to prop up her body which was limp from the scare. She knelt to the ground and kowtowed with a loud bang to the sitting woman.
"So be it. If it wasn't for lady Mu putting so much pressure on us, how could I have the heart to let you throw away your life? If you keep kowtowing so hard and the skin on your forehead breaks, wouldn't it be even more suspicious? What you've asked for just now, I'll definitely do it for you. But, during tomorrow's questioning, you have to be very careful. That woman is too shrewd. Take care not to fall into her trap."
The next day, in the hall of Danruo Courtyard. Mu Xi Yao was followed by a capable maidservant. The chief steward was standing aside, waiting for her instructions.
"This servant pays respect to cefei." The four concubines from Lantai and Zhuyin Courtyards were all standing respectively below. Each of them took along their two personal maidservants.
Mu Xi Yao swept a glance at them. Intentionally or otherwise, her gaze stayed a bit longer on them. Her lips were curled into a smile. She raised her right hand and told them to rise.
"Since qie called you here today, qie doesn't intend to hide it from you. You should sit down and listen to some things."
Lady Wu and lady Kong from Lantai Courtyards were seniors. They were used to being suppressed by Mu Xi Yao's overwhelming aura. Hearing her words, they courteously sat down. The remaining lady Qi, who entered the residence later than the previous two, was a schemer and a flexible person who took advantage of the situation. As for lady An, since entering the prince's residence, apart from going to Chanruo Courtyard during breakfast to attend to the principal consort, she rarely appeared in public. Until now, she always passed her days behind closed doors and hardly visited anyone. She was also adequately respectful to Mu Xi Yao.
"On the first day of this month, on the evening his Highness established his residence, the Shu Zhong rebels have infiltrated the prince's residence, intending to assassinate his Highness. After the failure of the assassination, they were killed on the spot." Mu Xi Yao spoke slowly. She observed, one by one, the people sitting below. Seeing that everyone had an expression filled with horror, she did not catch any anomaly.
"Qie and his fifth Highness's shufei have also met with danger at the water pavilion. We were almost killed and lost our lives."
Mu Xi Yao deliberately distorted the facts and completely erased the event of her being abducted outside the prince's residence.
She wasn't afraid that the mole would expose her for telling lies in public. Nowadays, she was worried that she was unable to find any threads. If someone foolishly jumps out to clarify the facts and testify that she had shown the way to the rebels and abducted Mu Xi Yao, wouldn't she just happen to hit the muzzle of her gun2?
"Qie's chief maidservant has once said that at the time she happened to witness a back of a servant girl who acted in a very sneaky way. She's suspected for showing the way to the rebels and leading the two renegades to the water pavilion, intending to commit immoral deeds." Mu Xi Yao's left hand gently stroked the table, her eyes dark.
The person who saw the servant girl that led the way wasn't the maidservant mentioned by her, but she herself.
After being forced to leave with the rebels that day, as they were passing a corner, a dirty-faced servant girl suddenly emerged and very nervously guided the way for rebels. She was pretty familiar with uncrowded alleys. From start to finish, she spoke no words. She always used gestures to point directions.
Now, she was under light and the mole was hiding in shadows. No matter how bold was that secret chess piece, she wouldn't dare to refute her words in front of people. Naturally, whatever she said was valid.
"The one who could go to the front and guide the rebels that night, whose figure and age is similar to that servant girl, out of the whole residence, only Zhuyin and Lantai Courtyards remain to be investigated. Everyone from those other courtyards offered evidence to show their innocence. Now, it's turned for the courtyard of you four. Whether there's anyone inciting trouble among you, you'll know in a moment after questioning."
As soon as Mu Xi Yao's words fell, she slapped hard her left hand. With a smack, it landed on the table.
"Daring to collude with the rebels and assassinate his Highness, that person is quite bold! If we're able to ferret out the spy buried in the prince's residence today, the person shall be immediately tied and sent to the Chanruo Courtyard and then handed over to authorities to be disposed!"
Everyone has not yet recovered from her talks about the assassination and they saw the woman sitting in the head seat lose her cool. Her face was completely different from the gentleness before. It was gloomy and fierce right now.
"Since this servant girl dared to guide the way for the regenerates, if anyone dares to cover her up and exculpate her actions, that person shall be punished severely along with her. According to the domestic discipline of the prince's residence, daring to collude with outsiders and plot against the prince and cefei, this is offense charged with beheading."
Mu Xi Yao spoke sternly and explained to them clearly the seriousness of this matter, scaring in the process a few unworldly women into quietness.
His Highness was actually attacked by assassins! Even cefei has almost lost her life. This was simply atrocious.
No wonder the entire yard was placed into confinement a few days ago. It turned out that such a big event happened. What a pity….why was lady Mu so fortunate?
Now that she was looking for the guiding servant girl with such great fanfare, it was inevitable that a little grudge played a role in it. This matter couldn't be handled with carelessness. Not only couldn't they interfere, but they also couldn't incite her resent. Otherwise, if she fails to find the real culprit in the end, and randomly frames it on someone, wouldn't it be a great injustice to them?
"Replying to cefei, this servant had indeed sent a maidservant out that night. However, it was not to collude with rebels but to see a steward to ask…to ask for a sanitary pad for qie. Qie begs cefei to make a fair judgment. That steward should be able to prove the innocence of qie's maidservant."
With a flushed face, Lady Qi anxiously pleaded her innocence. This accusation was too scary. She absolutely mustn't get herself involved. Although it was a servant girl who committed the offense, who can guarantee that her mistress won't be suspected?
"Replying to cefei, qie's maid also went to the laundry room at the front yard to wash qie's dresses. She was gone only for a moment. She shouldn't have any involvement with the regenerates."
Lady An was so frightened she confessed the whereabouts of her maid. Fearing that she wasn't accurate enough, she didn't even hide how much time the maid had been there.
The maids of the remaining two replied that they had never gone out and stayed in their courtyards all the time. They could find people to testify for them.
"The four of you needn't hurry to explain yourselves. No one can say for sure whether any of them made any detour after they went out. Don't tell qie that people who have remained behind in the courtyard were truly well-behaved and stayed there, not secretly leaving even for a moment? No one can be certain about it, right? Besides, people from the same courtyard speaking for each other is not a rare occurrence." Mu Xi Yao leisurely shook her circular fan with a disbelieving expression.
"This…how to put it. There's truly no way to prove one's innocent, right? Cefei, isn't it too harsh?" Lady Kong's face was filled with embarrassment. She has already explained so clear, yet she was still not satisfied? Could it be that lady Mu was trying to find fault with her?
"This can be easily handled." Mu Xi Yao's words answered lady Kong's doubts.
"This maidservant of qie, since she was young her greatest skill was to distinguish people based on the sound of their footsteps. Ever since she started to follow qie, she has never made a mistake. Having each of your maids turn around and take a few steps to let her look at their figure and listen to their steps will suffice."
Mu Xi Yao raised her eyebrow and looked at the faces of the four women below. She summoned Mo Lan and assumed the posture of someone who was waiting for the culprit to be caught.
The four of them looked at each other in dismay, skeptical about the skills of cefei's maidservant. It would be great if she was correct. Their innocence will be immediately proved. However, if she was inaccurate, wouldn't it be like watching helplessly how they are being accused wrongly?
"As long as you haven't done anything shameful in secret, you don't have to meddle in and worry for nothing. Qie's maidservant is taking a look at them merely to pick out the suspicious person. Afterward, that person still needs to be carefully interrogated. The authorities don't acknowledge the argument of "distinguishing people based on sounds". We still need to have tangible evidence, don't we?"
Mu Xi Yao's words made most people breathe a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't only her statements and definitive evidence was stressed on then this method was doable.
Only one person was inwardly panic-stricken, yet she didn't dare to show any signs of it on her face. Cefei has said that even if that person was identified, without any proof, they cannot make that person admit a confession by tortures. As long as she carefully followed her mistress's instructions, she would be able to escape this disaster.
"Mo Lan, let's begin." Mu Xi Yao took the mint tea handed over to her by Hui Lan and took a sip. She then ordered the people below to successively walk two rounds in the main hall in front of everyone.
Since nobody kept an eye on the way they walked before, no one felt awkward. Now that they were being stared at by the pairs of eyes of present mistresses, the eight maids walked as if on tenterhooks, fearing that any mistake they make would lead them to be arrested as a suspect.
Everyone watched as each maid came forward with a sweaty forehead and walked two rounds with stiff bodies. No one's footstep was steady. The way they walked was simply not their usual selves. Those timid ones were even trembling and they almost tripped themselves.
Mu Xi Yao's eyes twitched as she watched their awkward appearances. If the servant girls in the prince's residence all had this standard, they would be a laughing stock.
Leaving the prince's residence aside, even among wealthy families, all servant girls went through special training, and only those capable ones were chosen to serve their masters. Why is that once they came to the Danruo Courtyard the walking part which was their basic skills turned into a limp marionette-like movement?
Was she a she-devil or something? Was she so intimidating? Mu Xi Yao realised for the first time that she might not have a reputation as a kind person in the residence….
Having Mo Lan observing people was merely a gimmick that gave her grounds to act afterward. These servant girls were so timid. Moreover, they didn't commit any crimes. Each and every one of them was shivering like chicklings. Don't tell her that they all had guilty consciences and were too weak to go through a close investigation?
Mu Xi Yao thought of secrets in the inner yard. Her thoughts went askew. Although she was sitting there, there were all kinds of ideas in her mind. There will be no lack of inner yard and imperial harem struggles in the future, will it? She needs to revise regularly lest she falls into a hole dug by others and be schemed by them.
Translation notes:
[1] If you ride a tiger, it's hard to get off is a Chinese idiom which means that it is impossible to stop halfway
[2] Hit the muzzle of a gun is a Chinese phrase that means to bring about one's own destruction or ask for trouble
129
Mo Lan stood beside Mu Xi Yao, pretending to be earnestly identifying the person as per her mistress's order. Yet, she felt inwardly very uncertain. Her mistress's trick was too vicious. She actually told her how to deceive others! She has never done this work before. She wondered if she could meet her mistress's requirement – putting on a vivid and realistic act while showing a pleasantly surprised expression of "I finally found you".
She cast several secret glances at cefei. That look in her mistress's eyes, she could immediately tell that her mind has again wandered elsewhere. Every time mistress talked with this expression, it simply meant that she was not paying attention to you.
His Highness has handed over the important task of investigating the rebel faction to the mistress. Why is it that when it came to the mistress, it became her being an absent-minded spectator and even asking a servant girl to act as a charlatan to deceive people?
Mo Lan secretly muttered to herself while staring solemnly at the people passing by with extremely penetrating eyes.
Mistress has said, from the look in one's eyes to the expression, she had to act in such a way that outsiders couldn't catch the slightest flaw. Right now, she was extremely gifted. Since she was particularly good at this, she needed to show extra arrogance and put on airs so that her words would seem to carry authority.
After each of the eight people was done walking, Mo Lan took a step forward and used a voice not too loud nor too quiet, enough to make everyone in the room hear, to report to Mu Xi Yao.
"Mistress, this servant only caught a vague silhouette of that servant girl that night. Although this servant cannot say that her footsteps were committed to memory without any error, this servant is fairly confident. Among these few maidservants, three of them quite resembled that person." Mo Lan's eyes stayed on the three people below for a while. She stretched out her right hand and pointed out the suspicious people one by one.
Everyone in the main hall looked in the direction of her fingers, and discovered that every time she pointed at a person, that servant girl was bound to tremble and her face would turn pale in fright. All three seemed to be frightened, and their reactions were almost identical.
Mu Xi Yao had people report their identities. Upon hearing the identities, she learnt that they were servant girls from lady Kong, lady Wu, and Lady Qi's courtyards. The three of them looked at each other, and then quickly shifted away their gazes.
"What?!" Lady Kong was deeply shocked. She stared intently at the servant girl and repeatedly looked her up and down.
"Cefei, this maid was assigned to this servant's courtyard by the chief steward. How can she be a spy? Besides, after she finished her duties that day, she immediately went back to her room to sleep. This servant fears that from the perspective of the time, she doesn't match."
She has used this servant girl for a long time. She was quite satisfied with her. Up till now, she didn't make any mistakes. She shouldn't be the spy. If she was being wronged by others, she as her mistress will inevitably attract trouble. When it was needed for one to emphasise her innocence, one had to exert as much effort as possible to make herself understood clearly so as not to be the subject of others' gossip.
Mu Xi Yao slightly raised her eyebrow when she saw her eagerly arguing, "Who said that the servant girl was a spy? Is a little servant girl capable enough to serve as the rebel faction's spy? She is merely another person's lackey who can be discarded at any time. The real culprit is the person behind that servant girl!"
Once Mu Xi Yao's words came out, not only lady Kong was so frightened her complexion changed on the spot, even lady Wu and lady Qi turned pale with horror.
What she meant was that the servant girl's mistress was the real spy? It was terrible!
This time, lady Wu who was always taciturn was unable to stay calm anymore. She was so scared by Mu Xi Yao she spoke, "Cefei, this servant has been in the residence for four years. This servant is always courteous and rarely steps out of the courtyard. How can this servant be a rebel faction's spy? Moreover, this servant is very timid. It is impossible that this servant would help outsiders to assassinate his Highness!"
Just a little time has passed and the way how things were developing inside the room began to change. The suspicion started to be drawn from little servants to their respective mistresses. Lady Kong who previously hurried to speak on behalf of her servant girl was now genuinely panic-stricken. Her face turned gloomy and she got angry with her maid.
"Confess honestly. Who are you working for? Also, who gave you benefits to make you frame your own mistress?!" Her eyes swept over lady Wu and lady Qi, expressing clearly that the one behind had to be among the two of them.
When Mu Xi Yao heard her words, she suddenly wondered if her IQ declined due to the sixth Highness's pampering.
Her target has always been the seniors in this residence. Right now, one of these three was shaking with fear, unable to speak. The other one was hot-headed. Even before the conclusion was reached, she already pushed her servant girl out and betrayed her. The last one even now only knew to glamor that she was wronged, insisting firmly that there's someone to testify for her. Her words came out disorderly. It was evident that her mind wasn't clear enough.
Did they truly have the qualities of a spy? Mu Xi Yao was puzzled. In this situation, either she guessed the wrong person from the beginning or this spy was too awesome. Her acting has already reached the peak of perfection, all the falsehood was dressed up as truth.
Once again, Mu Xi Yao mused about the whole thing all over. She narrowed her eyes.
It cannot be wrong. It must be one of these three. The spy was truly impressive. Up to now, her acting has been perfect. Apparently, she had to tell them some cracking stories for a bit of reminder.
"Quiet." Mu Xi Yao reprimanded the three of them who were accusing each other and whose bickering was becoming increasingly outrageous. "What is there to quarrel? It's only a suspicion. It's not too late to settle accounts slowly after more things have been found out. Of the four of you, there are three servant girls that need further investigation. Since only one of them is guilty, the rest are naturally innocent."
Apart from Mu Xi Yao, there was only lady An in this room who could sit and watch the show. The remaining concubines were all restless. The reason for it varied from one another.
Those who didn't do bad things were afraid that someone would deliberately frame and hurl mud at them. The spy was agitated, not expecting that Mu Xi Yao could truly catch her person and put her under investigation.
"Stay calm. Qie happens to have an item that can be used to identify the person who guided the people." Mu Xi Yao ordered Mo Lan to take out the shredded paper. One by one, she put them together and arranged them on the long narrow table so that people could have a clear view of it.
"The spy should be an accomplice with Yin Ji from the fifth Highness's residence. Yin Ji once sent a letter to her, telling her to scheme against qie's shu sister. It just so happened that qie's little sister was somewhat thoughtful and knew to leave evidence. The note you see right now was given to the spy in the residence by Yin Ji. The spy then ordered her servant to shove it into the hand of qie's shu sister."
Mu Xi Yao picked up the circular fan on the table and shook it leisurely a few times, observing the three people's expressions while speaking.
She took out the note the two people communicated with each other and then pointed out the name of Yin Ji. Maybe this time she will receive some reaction?
As expected. As soon as two words "Yin Ji" were spoken, the gaze of one of them immediately had a slight change, but it instantly recovered. A gleam flickered through Mu Xi Yao's eyes. She finally caught the trace of this person! If the subsequent probe corresponds to this reaction, then there will be no doubt about this person's identity.
"It's getting late so these three people will be taken into custody for the time being. Tomorrow afternoon, the questioning will continue in the Chanruo Courtyard. Qie will be frank here. If anyone dares to play a trick and "murder the person to prevent divulgence of secrets" since the dead cannot testify, the servant girl's mistress will be punished. The rest of the people can forget about getting away. Even if the authorities couldn't handle the case, the penal code of the prince's residence doesn't recognise that women cannot stand torment.
Don't blame qie for being cruel. It's a matter related to his Highness's safety. Isn't there a saying, 'one'd rather kill wrong than to get one missed'? It refers to this, doesn't it?"
Mu Xi Yao spoke cold. Once these ruthless words were out, everyone's expression changed.
Lady Mu was going to set about the task and she won't give up until she finds something, will she? She had even considered the possibility of the murder to prevent the divulgence of secrets. It was obvious that she was determined this time. All the details were thoroughly taken into account by her. She was bent on getting to the bottom go this.
130
Seeing Mu Xi Yao's attitude, for a moment, everyone was on tenterhooks.
If she couldn't catch anyone this time and have it as she wished, cefei won't take her anger out on someone else, will she? Right now, his Highness was absent. They wondered whether He Lian principal consort will be able to suppress cefei's arrogance.
In particular, that spy who planned to sacrifice the servant girl to protect herself. Her heart clutched tightly. Her arrangements were disrupted. She was disconnected from the information too and unable to kill the servant girl. How was she going to avoid lady Mu's ploy? The most suspicious thing was the note she took out. Could it be that she missed something? How did she learn about the secret code name of Yin Ji?
She hasn't received any news from the other side since the incident. Don't tell her that Yin Ji was already captured in the fifth Highness's residence. Thinking of such a possibility, a cold sweat welled up on the woman's back. They were all their lord's most competent chess pieces. Although they were not very familiar with each other, they knew some secrets. If Yin Jin couldn't take on….the sixth Highness did not hesitate to exert ruthless methods. She simply did not dare to envisage her ending.
"You must be tired today. Tomorrow's trial is much simpler. All you need to do is call the servant girls and boys from your courtyards and let them be inspected by the gugu specially invited by the chief steward to examine them." Mu Xi Yao looked at the note and smiled profoundly.
"This Yin Ji was careful. Paper, pen, and ink were all pretty common. What a pity that the person who sent the letter was careless and left some marks on it which was enough to identify the real culprit.
Alright, you're dismissed today. Go back. Your servant girls will be given to the chief steward to oversee. After tomorrow, those who have done nothing wrong will be released and can continue to serve their mistresses."
After sending one after another person off, Mu Xi Yao called for Wei Zhen and gave him prudent advice.
"Order the secret guards to keep an eye on their subsequent actions – who they have met, what they have asked — all of it has to be recorded. No omission is allowed."
Now, Wei Zhen understood mistress Yao's strategy, and he exclaimed inwardly that she was cunning. This was a downright manipulation! That note couldn't be more ordinary. Its surface was very clean. It contained no flaws mistress has spoken about.
Mistress Yao stressed so much on the importance of the note. She put it inside a small box before everyone and locked it, appearing extremely cautious. Right now, that person should be confused once she goes back and be even more indecisive. On top of that, her personal maid was detained by the mistress and being guilt-stricken, it was likely that tonight won't be peaceful for her. She will definitely be deprived of sleep.
Mistress Yao wanted to tie spy that has been hidden for a long time in the residence without being found with bare hands1?. Her idea was truly clever. The woman his Highness valued was indeed like him, an ordinary person fell short to them.
As Wei Zhen expected, once those four returned, except for lady An who had long been ruled out of suspicion, the remaining raised a big rumpus2?, each of them being awfully busy.
In the morning of the following day, while carrying a delighted expression, Wei Zhen handed over the information from the secret guards that have been on duty all night.
Mu Xi Yao opened the confidential report and nodded in satisfaction after reading it. That's more like it! This show has been played for three whole days. No matter how cunning was the fox, in the end, it still revealed its tail.
But, the remaining people also were not worry-free characters. Just look at what they have done! Tsk, tsk, fortunately, she wasn't the principal consort. Otherwise, she would be infuriated by them. She didn't have the patience to manage them. She had grasped their secret in her hand. It wasn't bad to leave them for later against a rainy day.
She didn't expect to receive an unpredicted bonus while catching a renegade. If Mu Xi Yao knew that it was so easy to get so much information, she would have tormented the entire inner yard. What a pity it was too late to do anything. Who told her to have such a clear goal and act too fast? Now she regretted deeply her past deeds.
"If this is the case, let's add another fuel to the fire." Mu Xi Yao smiled brightly. Yet, the task she instructed to Wei Zhen was utterly devious.
As the saying goes, send Buddha to the west3?. When looking for the traitor, she naturally had to step on the person a few times and prepare more room for maneuvers. There can be nothing wrong with this. Besides, if it weren't for that person's guilty conscience, this trick of hers would be of no use. This is called "the evil man brings on himself", "as a man sows, so let him reap", and "knowing exactly how things stand".
As Wei Zhen listened to Mu Xi Yao's instructions, his eyes immediately lit up. His gaze was filled with reverence for Mu Xi Yao.
Mistress Yao was too smart. Fortunately that apart from being a little unruly, she was good-natured and won't harm others. Or else, not many women would be left in the entire inner yard.
"Mistress, this subordinate is puzzled over a matter. This subordinate doesn't know whether it could be spoken out." He didn't dare to ask his Highness anything. But, mistress Yao was easier to talk to.
Mu Xi Yao stopped her hands that were fiddling with bonsai. She raised her chin slightly, indicating that he needn't be polite with her and can ask any questions.
When Zhao momo saw her mistress's action, she had a hard time standing by idly watching her. Mistress could obviously display fine manners and etiquette, yet she did as she pleased regardless of the rules and acted carelessly in front of outsiders. Was lifting a chin something a noblewoman would do? This kind of mannerism was clearly associated with commoners. His Highness was too much. He doted on mistress so much that she treated rules with less and less seriousness. What should they do if the little master followed her suit in the future?
Wei Zhen was already used to Mu Xi Yao's unruliness. He pretended not to see her inappropriate behavior.
"This subordinate was sent to the princess's mansion to "exchange golden-crowned hummingbird that day. Afterward, his Highness left the residence and smoothly brought the mistress back. How did it happen? Previously, this subordinate and others had clearly much trouble finding mistress and didn't make any progress." Wei Zhen asked gloomily, particularly when he mentioned the word "exchange", that expression of his could not hide the embarrassment he felt.
As soon as he recalled that forced buying incident, Wei Zhen was filled with shame. Afterward, he even lost to an aggravating hummingbird he never heard of before. He dwelled on this matter for a long time.
Mu Xi Yao paused when she heard the meaning behind his words, "Were you looking for a gold-crowned hummingbird? Wasn't it high mountain crested ibis?"
Instead of looking for high mountain crested ibis Zhong Zheng Lin went to search for the hummingbird that was so rare that even she had never seen it before? Why?
Wei Zhen's eyelid jumped upon listening to Mu Xi Yao's questions. It couldn't be what he thinks, could it?
"Mistress, high mountain crested ibis would do too?"
"Naturally. That day I was carrying a scented sachet. Inside was a special component consisting of raspberry and red flower of akebia which mountain crested ibis was deeply fond of. Although the golden-crowned hummingbird was also very sensitive to it, it was due to double-wing insects feeding on the red flower of akebia. The hummingbird was only interested in double-wing insects."
The mountain-crested ibis easy was not only easy to find, it also responded more quickly to the scent left by her.
Mu Xi Yao's explanation to Wei Zhen was half true and half false. She did not use a scent that day, but one of the few remaining drugs in the space she almost had forgotten. How can an ordinary scent last so long, and wait to be traced the next day?
The first time she faced assassins sent by the first prince, she used precisely the knockout drug stored in space. Unfortunately, after she entered the palace, much herbal medicine was forbidden there. She was unable to prepare drugs. As a result, Mu Xi Yao left the space standing idle. It wasn't until that day when she was almost at the end of her rope that it suddenly occurred to her that she could use a few herbal medicines.
With a self-rescue plan, all that was missing was someone who could pass on the news to her. It just so happened that that day Zhong Zheng Lin dispatched a manservant to the side hall to look for Zhong Zheng Ming. On the way, he met Mo Wan Qing's maidservant, the chess piece Mu Xi Yao had buried in the fifth prince's residence.
The two were searching everywhere for the fifth Highness who was in the front yard. They accidentally met Mu Xi Yao and the party in the alley to the bamboo forest. Considering that the two renegades were on guard against her, Mu Xi Yao did not dare to take risks and call for help. She feared that the rebels would jump over the wall like a cornered dog4? and either the fish would die or the net splits5?. Hence, she could only take chances and sprinkle the medicine on the maidservant's body as the two groups of people were passing by each other. Afterward, she kept running her eyes on her clothes.
Afraid that she won't notice the anomaly, Mu Xi Yao even pretended to get angry. At the time, she was pretty mean and unkind with words. She loudly chided the servant boy, threatening him that if the lantern in his hand rubbed or scraped her silk skirt, she will properly check its condition once she returns. In case of damage to her fancy skirt, she would seek the fifth princess consort for an explanation.
Upon seeing her scolding the servant boy, the renegades initially thought that she was stirring up trouble. Just as they were about to get mad, she snorted coldly in disgust and left first all arrogantly. As she walked she raise her skirt in distress and voiced that it was a fine material specially sought by the sixth Highness and that it was truly hateful another person dirtied it in such a way.
After this commotion caused by Mu Xi Yao, in the eyes of the renegades, this incident was merely a woman cherishing the clothes gifted by the beloved man. To Mu Xi Yao, it was actually a turning point for her survival.
Mu Xi Yao was extremely satisfied with the gleam that flashed through the maidservant who followed the servant boy's suit and begged for an apology. She proved herself to be a fine seedling chosen by her. A hint was all she needed. She certainly lived up to expectations.
Mu Xi Yao was particularly gratified when she recalled that dependable person. Once Yin Ji is captured, it should get quiet over there at Mu Xi Ting's place. She has to find an opportunity to take that girl out and provide her a bright future. Or, she could change her identity and let her enter the residence to join her sister Chun Lan. She can take care of the little bun and become a chief gugu.
Mu Xi Yao entertained herself with ideas. Meanwhile, Wei Zhen wore a dejected expression. That aggrievement of his, even Mu Xi Yao whose mind has wandered elsewhere was unable to put up with it anymore, "Sir Wei, why that expression?" She properly explained the whole story so why are you still so sad?
"His Highness, his Highness ordered this servant to snatch the fourth princess's golden-crowned hummingbird just because the mountain-crested ibis bore an ominous message. It was a widow bird."
Mu Xi Yao's face flushed from her own choke. Zhong Zheng Lin this man. There was a bottom line to fall out, all right?
It was just a bird. Was there a need to associate it with her? Moreover, what was wrong with a widow? Big boss hasn't died yet. How would she dare to remarry?
Mu Xi Yao gazed fiercely at Wei Zhen. If he mentions this kind of unreliable and embarrassing matter again, he should wait to be fixed by her! Since the sixth Highness himself was pretentious the subordinate he groomed wasn't any better.
Upon seeing him being ashamed for snatching the princess's lousy bird, for a moment, wicked thoughts entertained Mu Xi Yao's mind.
"Sir Wei, how about you pay another visit? Qie feels genuinely sorry for his Highness's banknotes worth tens of thousands of taels. How about you go get those banknotes back for qie? As for the bird, just say that it flew away."
That's the result of you being a chatterbox and pretending a melancholy in front of her for a lousy bird. How could be one's mood lifted by the sight of him?
Wei Zhen was frightened by Mu Xi Yao. He immediately asked for leave after uttering a few indiscernible words. This one was even more ruthless than his Highness. Not only won't she give money, she even wanted to solicit the hummingbird. These two masters were really….a perfect match.
"Mistress, the letter from his Highness has arrived." Wei Zhen who just freed himself was sent back by an urgent letter from the sixth Highness.
Seeing him being on guard, Mu Xi Yao laughed and scolded him, "Go, go. Who can possibly force you to collect debts?"
As soon as Wei Zhen handed over the letter, he quickly removed himself. With the sound of the swoosh, he was nowhere to be seen.
Translation notes:
[1] Refers to the idiom to tie a white wolf with bare hands, which means to gain valuable things with worthless things
[2] Raise a big rumpus is a Chinese idiom that means to drag in many people to do sth
[3] Refers to the idiom "Helping people to the end, sending Buddha to the west", which means when you help others, help them to do the whole thing well
[4] A cornered dog will jump over the wall is a Chinese idiom that means to be driven to desperate action
[5] Either the fish dies or the net splits is a Chinese idiom that means to fight until both parties are destroyed
131
As soon as she opened the letter in her hand, Zhong Zheng Lin's bold and domineering cursive script1 caught her eye.
"Bendian hopes this letter finds Jiao Jiao well. At the riverside of Wei River, bendian abruptly recalled Jiao Jiao saying that the whitebaits of Wei River were the best in the world. Hence, bendian asked the local fisherman to catch some. On the way back, they were being fed well so that once they were sent to Shengjing, Jiao Jiao could taste something delicious."
Mu Xi Yao's eyes lit up. The corner of her lips inadvertently rose higher and higher. Boss was too courteous. He still remembered her joke. But, for the sake of a few whitebaits, specially assigning people to take care of it, wasn't it a bit too extravagant? Mu Xi Yao started to calculate the expenses of this journey in her mind. Alright, this woman was unreasonable. She has received a benefit, yet she still pitied the money.
"Bendian finds Jiao Jiao's letter to be very comforting. If Jiao Jiao's journal could be written in greater detail, it would be surely excellent. In addition, if Jiao Jiao misses bendian, Jiao Jiao can be straightforward about it. Bendian will be waiting for Jiao Jiao's love letter."
Mu Xi Yao blinked her eyes as she read how he was shamelessly urging her for letters. It was indeed the boss's style. If the meaning of these words were to be translated, she felt that it more resembled one thing she was once forced to do: when writing a letter to great boss the central idea had to revolve around "I dare not to forget you after our parting". The language used had to be sincere, the emotion rich and if the number of characters written wasn't less than a thousand they couldn't contain punctuation.
Right? Boss was asking her to write a sentimental essay. What's more, she had to diligently turn in her homework since he would be unhappy to have to wait for it.
The sentimental essay seems to be a bit difficult to write….Mu Xi Yao squeezed the letter in her hand while pondering. How about adding one or two lovesick laments at the end of each letter? Does it count?
Mhm, the boss was to blame for taking advantage of work to serve his personal gains. Otherwise, how could there be two letters in three days? This frequency…..boss, hurry up and go to Shu Zhong. Qie is very busy. Qie has to carry out household duties, look after a child and prepare for childbirth. In addition, qie has to write a diary every day….how come the way she spent her days became weirder and weirder?
Mu Xi Yao took Hui Lan to the study and committed herself to a reply letter for the boss. The more she wrote the harder it got. She loathed the part about picking a topic for the essay. The brain of hers was inept at this….
In the end, a cunning idea came to her mind and she called Gui Momo to bring Cheng Qing over.
"Cheng Qing is the most well-behaved child. Do you miss daddy?" Mu Xi Yao coaxed him like wolf-grandmother.
As soon as Zhao momo heard her mistress's tone, she immediately raised her guard, "Mistress, his Highness is far away. You aren't thinking of taking little master and seeking his Highness, are you? You absolutely mustn't! Aside from your pregnancy, the little master also won't be able to stand the hot and airtight carriage. If he gets rashes, he will have a hard time…."
In exchange for one question, Mu Xi Yao got a lengthy persuasion from Zhao momo. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Was she so immature that it made people around her think she was unable to stay nicely at home and wait for childbirth?
"Momo, what are you saying? You're thinking too much. Qie only wanted Cheng Qing to leave some words on the letter that would be sent to his daddy?" This sort of sentiment was, without a question, rich and sincere enough. The little bun had a pure and innocent heart of a child. How could the sixth Highness dislike it?
Everyone's faces froze as cefei stood her ground. She insisted on using the brush to smear the little master's hands and feet with black ink and then leaving imprints on the center of each fine writing paper. The imprint was indeed pitch-black and shiny. Other than that, it only had captions "Cheng Qing's little hand" and "Cheng Qing's little foot" written by cefei's zanhua script2.
Looking at her mistress's tricks, Mo Lan's face flushed. Before leaving, his Highness instructed mistress to exchange correspondences with him often. But, the letter mistress handed to her…..well, one was a letter handwritten by her, but it was only half a page. The remaining two were filled with only little master's hands and feet.
Mistress, goofing off like this, aren't you afraid his Highness will reprimand you once he returns?
Cheng Qing was joyful and had fun as Mu Xi Yao Mu Xi Yao was handling him. He managed to leave imprints on whole sheets of paper. In the meantime, he smeared his face with an ink-stained hand and instantly turned into a black-faced doll.
Mu Xi Yao was amused by the sight of him at first, but then she suddenly noticed that the eyes of the people serving her were filled with protest. Their expressions were clearly complaining that she didn't dote on a little bun and didn't behave like a mother.
Mu Xi Yao quickly fixed her conduct. She put on an act and waved her hand, "Hurry up, hurry up. Take this naughty doll out and wash him clean. This child, as soon as he becomes enamored with having fun, he immediately forgets that he is a member of the prince's residence." That tone of hers made Zhao momo and others leave as soon as they took the little guy into their arms, leaving behind only two orchids to serve her.
Mistress was too awful. She even puts the blame on little master! Little master has not yet reached the age of one year and already had to act as a scapegoat for his mommy. If his Highness knew that mistress was bullying his son like this, he would surely give her a scolding.
"Hui Lan, collect these papers. Every time correspondence is sent to his Highness stuff two inside. Be sure to bear it in mind." This way, the sixth Highness can always be in contact with his son in an unconventional way and fully experience the joy of raising a child. Moreover, she won't have to rack her brains to fill all the characters. This idea was indeed wonderful.
As Mu Xi Yao was smug about solving a difficult problem, unbeknownst to her, the punishment from the sixth Highness will befall her a few days later.
—-
"Mistress, won't you rest for a while? Cefei will be coming over in the afternoon to interrogate that rebel as well as the plant in front of you. If you were in low spirit, it would be inevitable that others will gossip and say that your complexion didn't look well due to the pressure from cefei." Bi Lan fanned while persuading He Lian Min Min to take a rest in the inner room.
"It's alright. I slept well yesterday." When she returned from He Lian residence that day, she immediately asked to see Zhong Zheng Lin. However, she was told that his Highness wasn't in the front yard. Instead, he was using a meal in cefei's place. After she waited until it was finally past meal time and send people to pass a message, she heard that his Highness took cefei to the front yard to sort out chests.
This matter should have been managed by the principal consort, but Mu Xi Yao took it over. This made her feel uncomfortable for a long time. Besides, she wanted to ask his Highness for a favor. How could she speak in front of Mu'shi? Not only would she become the object of her gossip, but it would also make her seem too petty-minded and humble. How can an outsider take part in a matter discussed between husband and wife? Even if asking for a favor, only his Highness alone could see the appearance of her bowing her head in obedience.
As a result, the matter was put off again and again, until that morning when she saw his Highness off the capital, she still didn't find a suitable opportunity to mention a few words to his Highness. If it goes on like this, He Lian House will send someone to ask questions sooner or later.
"Mistress, are you worried over the matter master spoke of that hasn't been settled yet?" Feng momo who understood her thoughts asked her.
"This old servant heard that his Highness sent letters back to the residence today. One was sent to…." She hesitated for a while and revealed, "Sent to Danruo Courtyard. This servant heard that cefei would, from time to time, entrust a correspondence to the chief steward, and together with news from residence, they would be sent to his Highness at top speed. This is not the first time. Last time when his Highness took Su cefei out of the residence, she sent two letters in a row to his Highness."
He Lian Min Min's face was filled with disbelief. Her eyes were wide-opened. "His Highness actually allowed her to mix her private letters with official documents and sent them out? This was simply a great violation of the ancestor's domestic discipline. How can a woman interfere with her lord husband's official matters for personal reasons?
"See, mistress. His Highness actually allowed cefei such a thing. The matter in your hand is of much higher importance than her schemes which are aimed at winning grace and currying favor with his Highness. Why doesn't mistress follow her example, write this matter into the letter and send it to his Highness lest you be embarrassed and unable to speak about it."
He Lian Min Min was reluctant at first. She felt she would lose a principal wife's propriety. Later, after hearing Feng momo mention He Lian Wei Rui, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and write a letter to Zhong Zheng Lin.
As a result, the sixth Highness will soon receive separate correspondences from the two women in the family. But the contrast of the two….really made him fume with rage between gritted teeth.
Translation notes:
[1] Cursive script refers to one of five Chinese calligraphy styles. Learn more about Chinese calligraphy styles here.
[2] Zanhua script is a type of regular script
132
"Big sister, shall we begin?" Mu Xi Yao was full of smiles. Turning her head, she looked at He Lian Min Min's stiff face, not minding her indifference to her at all.
"If you can truly catch the spy, the sooner the better." He Lian Min Min nodded in agreement. Although she found Mu Xi Yao's seductive appearance abominable, that rebel who was like a fish bone stuck in her throat was even more detestable.
"Fang gugu is an elder from the palace. She is very skillful in the uses of fragrances and medicine. Today, you all will listen to her order and be examined one by one."
"Gugu, we will have you troubled."
Fang gugu was of a slim and tall build. She had her hair neatly coiffed. The gaze on her grave face was particularly sharp.
"There is a scent on the letter. It is very light. It is a trace left behind by the sweat of a person who was in a long time exposure to a type of powdered scent. Over the years, the scent has penetrated into the person's skin. In a moment, each of you put your hand in the basin and let it stay in the water for a while. The result will be explained later by this servant."
Mu Xi Yao looked at the women in the room and sighed in her heart. It was not easy to find an excuse. Any carelessness would result in a flaw in the plan. Fortunately, the womenfolk of the Great Wei was used to incense, which saved her troubles.
"The servant girls from lady Wu and lady Qi's courtyards come first. Then, it will be the turn of people attending to lady Qi." Mu Xi Yao ordered quickly and thus decided the sequence of each person.
Lady Wu obeyed the order and stood up. She curtsied respectfully and told the servant girls in her courtyard to get one by one inspected by gugu.
After a while, everyone had their hands soaked in water. Their hands were stretched forward so the present mistresses could see them clearly.
He Lian Min Min looked at the pairs of wet palms. Apart from dangling droplets, she couldn't see any other differences. She raised her brows in puzzlement.
"The hands of people from miss Wu's courtyard are not stained with any kind of incense." Fang gugu replied to He Lian principal consort and Mu cefei with a stern face.
Mu Xi Yao nodded and indicated her to continue.
When it was the turn of the people from lady Kong, there were two people whose hands yellowed.
"It is a reaction to long-term exposure to a scent of lily. It doesn't match the scent on the letter."
Lady Kong's anxious heart finally found its peace. Fang gugu was indeed capable. She was able to determine the incense she used regularly.
Afterward, lady Qi's people were the same as lady Wu's. No change happened.
As everyone watched three groups of people and more than a dozen hands, for a moment, they all quieted down. It was clear that no spy was found according to Fang guru's method!
The whole inspection caused a huge commotion yet the result was such a disappointment. It was simply a waste of time. Everyone in the room instantly began to get unbecoming ideas. They stared strangely at Mu Xi Yao. Especially the high-ranking ones in the inner yard. They were pleasantly surprised inside and gloated over her failure.
Mu'shi dragged many people into this inspection and even assured the principal consort that the spy would be caught today. With such an outcome, how is she going to wind up with this matter? This time, this woman has made herself a laughing stock.
"Little sister, why is that the result doesn't make sense to big sister? Or could it be you have found the wrong person?" Su Lin Rou took the silk handkerchief to hide the corner of her lips and sneered.
"Mu'shi, is this assurance you gave benfei?" He Lian Min Min's face carried deep displeasure. She thought that her confident talk was due to her having ample evidence. He Lian Min Min was surprised that Mu Xi Yao was also a big talker. If she knew she was so incompetent she might have as well locked up all the suspects and used torture to extort confessions from them.
Mu Xi Yao looked at all the people's expressions and her heart felt deeply "saddened".
Oh dear, apart from lady Zhang, nobody in the inner court likes her. Was her character that bad? Demoness Mu was very dissatisfied with her lack of popularity. Once the sixth Highness went away and she had no one to support her, these people no longer bothered with superficial courtesy. They honestly had no tact.
"Big sister, wait a little, isn't the result out already?" Mu Xi Yao chuckled. She waved the circular fan in her left hand and pointed at a person. A pair of painted eyebrows raised up high.
"What, how long do you intend to play?"
Everyone's eyes followed her fan and they all looked at lady Wu. After they saw that it was the dense-head who had always been well-behaved and timid, their expressions were beyond words.
After being rooted out by Mu Xi Yao, lady Wu felt dizzy for a moment. She took a few steps with weak legs and knelt in the middle with a trembling body. Her eyes were filled with panic and she couldn't even explain herself. She resembled very much her usual chicken-hearted and eyesore-like self.
Su Lin Rou cast a scornful glance at lady Wu who was shaking from the fright. Subsequently, she turned her head, snorted, and looked at Mu Xi Yao with great disdain. "Little sister, are you unable to catch the person thus you pointed at a random person to fool us? Does cefei think that people present here are simpletons?"
The people in the room in general agreed with Su Lin Rou's doubt. Lady Wu was such a good-for-nothing. If she were the spy, they would be oblivious fools, wouldn't they?
Mu Xi Yao listened to Su Lin Rou's nitpicking and stared at her for a while. She looked at her until the woman in front of her was on pins and needles. She finally pouted and uttered words that made the other party get steamed up.
"If Su cefei didn't come to Chanruo Courtyard with her brain today, qie can wait for you to come again after reorganizing yourself."
This was clearly saying that Su Lin Rou was dumb. Nobody present expected that two cefeis would accidentally butt heads. Their moods were immediately stirred up. Since entering the prince's residence, there has never been any apparent inner yard conflict. This situation…was it a signal to a head-on confrontation?
"You!" Su Lin Rou was so angry she threw her handkerchief. She looked at Mu Xi Yao with blood-red eyes. "Don't think that since his Highness favors you, you can act recklessly. There is still an official prince's consort in this residence. You, Mu Xi Yao, are just a mere concubine! Both as prince's cefei, what seniority do you have to humiliate me with malicious words?"
He Lian Min Min sat upright and watched the conflict between the two intensify, without the slightest intention to dissuade the two. On the contrary, she watched drama in front of her with joy.
Su Lin Rou was someone who lacked a brain. It was a good thing that Mu Xi Yao got entangled with her. She welcomed any opportunity to vex Mu'shi.
Seeing the principal consort remain silent, the two shufei also sat quietly, daring not to overstep boundaries.
Mu Xi Yao watched Su Lin Rou lose the plot. She was obviously very angry. This was truly troublesome. Now that Zhong Zheng Lin was away, He Lian Min Min would definitely not be willing to help her to put this woman into confinement. Did they want to force her to do it herself?
"There's no need to hurry, Su cefei. You need only to sit down and listen to this interrogation. When the time comes, the issue regarding whether you have brains or not will not be up to qie's words. Let alone those supposed words of humiliation." When the time comes, take that pig brain of yours and quickly scram out. The sight of her upset her.
"How dare you talk nonsense!" Su Lin Rou was furious. She rose her hand and it was about to greet Mu Xi Yao's face.
"Insolent! How presumptuous of you!" He Lian Min Min was startled. She quickly ordered people to pull Su Lin Rou back and hold her in the seat, afraid of letting her go.
Zhao momo took along the female guard left by the sixth prince and already stood in front of Mu Xi Yao to protect her. Even if the principal consort didn't step in, Su cefei won't be able to get to their mistress.
He Lian Min Min's face was grim. Su Lin Rou this woman. Just as she thought she would be able to see her and Mu Xi Yao's fine play, Su Lin Rou gets her into such big trouble?
"Su'shi, if you dare to act wilfully again, benfei can only put you into confinement. Think carefully before you act." He Lian Min Min glared at her gloomily. If it weren't for the fact that they were still in front of people at the moment, He Lian Min Min would have slapped her in the face. Could Mu Xi Yao be bumped into right now? As long as that goddamn belly of hers didn't give birth, it couldn't be touched by anyone, especially not in front of her!
"Mu'shi, continue with questioning. If you cannot catch the person today, that assurance of yours, benfei still remembers clearly." The implication is that if she dared to talk big, she would shoulder all the punishment.
"Yes. Qie will immediately get to the main point～" Mu Xi Yao's voice dragged on at the end. She cast a sidelong glance at Su Lin Rou for a while then turned back and continued to interrogate lady Wu.
"Hands of Qi's maidservant didn't change color after being soaked in water. That's because she is a little….averse to incense. Hence, she hasn't used incense for a long time." Mu Xi Yao paid particular attention to the words she used. Smart people immediately understood the meaning behind them.
Since lady Qi used incense to seduce Zhong Zheng Lin and was fixed by him, she was terrified to this day. How could she dare to touch that thing even a little? She was afraid that if it was found out by his Highness, he would bring up and settle old scores with her.
"As for you," Mu Xi Yao looked at lady Wu and shook her head regretfully, "you are too clever."
"Show her the two pieces of paper." Mu Xi Yao asked Mo Lan to hand over the copy of the secret report to lady Wu who was kneeling for a look.
"After you went back yesterday, have you kept the door to your courtyard closed and been occupied for a while? Not only did you call for your trusted servant girl to ask questions, but you also walked around in the courtyard several times by yourself. In the end, you were still worried, you took something and added it to the water jar. Nobody in the courtyard was aware of it so they drank crude tea1 boiled from that water.
It might not have occurred to you, but since qie received this news qie has added many stuffs to your remaining chief maidservant's clothes and hair accessories on the whim. But, how come we couldn't find anything today? Wu'shi, don't you find it strange?"
Mu Xi Yao rocked her circular fan and watched the woman's complexion change drastically. For a moment, her mood became cheerful. Who let you pass information and help others. The retribution was indeed refreshing.
"Why, do you still wish to argue? In that case, do you want Fang gugu to use other methods to examine the clothes of your chief maidservant? Oh, that's right, there is also that water jar. You should not have time to tie up loose ends. What could be added there? Could it be that mystical secret drug from Shu Zhong? It could even conceal the smell. Quite practical….."
Every time Mu Xi Yao said a word, lady Wu's face turned paler.
She fell into a trap! This woman was so cunning. She made her loose her head and ruin herself with her own cleverness. She was genuinely helpless. She has got herself off the hook for so many years. After today, this life will no longer be her own.
How funny. When was this life even hers? She has been manipulated by others her whole life and now she was merely paying her debts.
The women in the inner yard saw the woman kneeling in the center, lady Wu, who was shivering with a deathly pale face suddenly stop trembling. She tidied up the hair on her temples and slowly got up.
"Cefei's shrewdness…this servant did not lose unjustly." Lady Wu's face was serene. Her eyes were filled with indifference. There was no sight of her initial dull and slow-witted appearance. She looked rather haughty.
"The way you speak now is worthy of your eyes." Mu Xi Yao's mission was completed. She didn't hesitate to say a few rubbish words.
Only then did everyone notice those bright eyes of lady Wu. They surprisingly felt a sense of amazement.
He Lian Min Min examined lady Wu for a long time before looking back at Mu Xi Yao. She shouldn't but had to admire her methods.
As for Su Lin Rou, her face turned purplish red. She wished she could immediately go to hide in her Fang Hua Courtyard and avoid everyone.
"Come and put this woman into custody. On a fixed day, she shall be sent to authorities and be punished severely." He Lian Min Min ordered sternly. It was a matter regarding a rebel. She had no right to handle criminals in private.
"Wait!" Mu Xi Yao spoke and stopped Tian Fu Shan's subordinates.
"Mu'shi, what is the meaning of this?" He Lian Min Min was angry. She has already found out about the criminal. How long does she hope to give orders in Chan Ruo Courtyard? Did she want to use this opportunity to show off her contribution to the prince's residence?
Mu Xi Yao disregarded He Lian Min Min's questioning. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and looked very coldly at the woman standing in the main hall who wasn't afraid to meet her eyes.
"Lady Wu, or should I call you 'Zhi zi'?"
Translation notes:
[1] Crude tea refers to tea made from rough and old tea leaves
133
Lady Wu's pupils shrank. Mu Xi Yao noticed her expression froze for a moment.
"It's really you," Zhong Zheng Lin had mentioned to her that his informant in the first prince's residence had once relayed the news that the House of the Duke of An may have planted a spy in the inner yard. Its codename was "Zhi Zhi." Therefore, Mu Xi Yao had been keeping an eye on any suspicious candidates, eventually targeting lady Wu, lady Gan, and lady An.
None of these three women were simple. So far, neither Lady Wan nor Lady An had revealed any flaws. Only Lady Wu had previously visited Lady Zhang's courtyard in an unusually diligent manner, which had attracted her attention. Later, she discovered that Lady Wu would often send her servant girl to interact with the attendant in the front yard, asking him to buy small items or something.
These seemed to be quite ordinary and insignificant matters. But once you paid close attention, you would find anomalies. Every time something happened in the residence or she caused some commotion, the number of purchases by Lady Wu would be carefully increased by one or two times. This notable change made Mu Xi Yao especially interested in lady Wu.
Afterward, she discovered a very strange occurrence. Lady Wu had two chief maidservants by her side, yet the people they came into contact with were different each time. It was as if they were two separate teams that did not interfere with each other. Such a meticulous arrangement soon made Mu Xi Yao take notice. If she were not in the palace and short on manpower, she would have already dispatched someone to investigate and unravel the situation.
Until this accident, Mu Xi Yao hadn't had a chance to take action and address the situation, but lady Wu was already one step ahead of her and caused her to be locked in a small black room 1.
As a result, when Mu Xi Yao's position turned around, the first person she suspected was lady Wu. As for lady Kong and lady Qi, they were included in the list of suspects only due to their seniority and for the sake of caution.
"So, who is the real master behind you? Qie is truly curious. Is it the lord of those rebels or the House of Duke of An behind the first prince?" Mu Xi Yao looked at the expressionless woman in front of her and had to admire her. Internal Affairs2. She played this game very well. It was possible that she was a double agent. Her abilities in Great Wei could be considered to be among the top.
Unfortunately, this woman had a fatal flaw, that was, she had developed feelings for Zhong Zheng Lin! On several occasions when Mu Xi Yao was publicly affectionate with Zhong Zheng Lin, she could catch a glimpse of pain in lady Wu's eyes. That kind of extreme restraint and bitter emotion left Mu Xi Yao quite shocked.
Later, she fully cooperated with the other side's actions. Perhaps, it was due to longstanding resentment and a desire for revenge.
"Cefei has surprised this servant. Is there anything in the inner yard that cefei isn't aware of?" Lady Wu cast a glance at her and walked back to her seat, sitting down with an imposing presence.
Seeing her approach, everyone around lady Wu immediately scattered and cleared a large space for her. There was no one around.
They never would have expected that this honest person was actually the most venomous snake and scorpion. Not only was she the inside man of the rebels, but she also had connections with the House of Duke of An. Her identity was so unbelievable that no one would dare to believe it if it were to be revealed.
"It's simply outrageous! Lady Wu, you are a guilty person. What right do you have to sit in the hall?"
He Lian Min Min was initially startled by Mu Xi Yao's words. After she finally managed to recover her composure, she saw lady Wu sit down in an imposing manner, seemingly unaware that she was about to become a prisoner.
"Jiejie, there's no need to get angry. Rewarding her a chair is a way of sending her on her way, as she is a person who is going to die." Mu Xi Yao smiled gorgeously, but her eyes were filled with gloom.
Lady Wu couldn't be handed over to authorities. Once she enters the prison, the first prince will look for an opportunity to act. As Zhong Zheng Lin wasn't in Shengjing and she was a mere woman, it was absolutely impossible for her to openly confront a prince's household.
Previously, it was said that lady Wu would be sent to authorities for investigation, but it was only because her other identity had not been confirmed yet. Now that situation has been clarified, lady Wu had to be disposed of.
"Didn't cefei expose this servant's identity in front of everyone because cefei wishes to cut off all of this servant's escape routes?" If Mu'shi had not spoken out, the first prince might have still taken into account her past contributions and found a way to get her out and make other arrangements for her. However, t was no longer possible. But now, having been publicly exposed, Zhong Zheng Chun would never get himself involved in this mess, let alone acknowledge her identity.
"You're quite smart." Mu Xi Yao was indifferent to the intense hatred in lady Wu's eyes.
"Has Yin Ji also been exposed?"
"As qie is cefei of the sixth prince's household, qie is not able to interfere with the investigation of others in another household for the time being." That Yin Ji, she was afraid that Zhong Zheng Ming hasn't had time to investigate her thoroughly yet. Otherwise, he wouldn't have only confined the entire inner yard and no news was heard from him even after he left the capital.
"That is to say, this servant's luck is not good as this servant entered the sixth Highness's household of all places." Coincidentally, she fell in love with his Highness and encountered this wicked woman.
"As cefei is aware, this servant doesn't have long to live. Can cefei help clarify doubts this servant has so that this servant can die with a contend?"
"No." Mu Xi Yao unexpectedly rejected lady Wu's last request.
Lady Wu's eyes widened suddenly, with a trace of blood spilling from the corners of her mouth.
"Ah!" Lady Qi was startled by lady Wu's unusual condition and screamed. The main house was quickly engulfed in fear.
The women in the inner yard had never seen such a bloody scene face-to-face before. Su Lin was too frightened and, because of her previous embarrassment and anger, her emotions were in such turmoil, her knees felt weak and she faint.
He Lian Min Min's face paled, and her fingertips trembled slightly. At this time, she finally understood Mu Xi Yao's words 'send her on her way'. It wasn't intimidation. She had foreseen lady Wu's fate.
"Jie Jie, if you don't speak up, when the situation becomes chaotic later, it won't look good." Mu Xi Yao sat comfortably and watched the women below who were thrown into chaos. Her ears were constantly disturbed by the noise.
When He Lian Min Min saw Mu Xi Yao's calm demeanor, she felt small-minded in comparison and struggled to keep her frustration in check.
For women, getting angry was the easiest reaction. Frustrated, He Lian Min Min let out a huge outburst of rage, causing the women in each courtyard to lose their composure and become instantly quiet from fear.
Lady Wu's almond-white lapel was already stained red with blood, but she stubbornly leaned against the back of her chair and stared at Mu Xi Yao, refusing to look away even for a second.
"Is it too much to ask for cefei to fulfill even a humble with of this servant?" As she spoke, her breathing was already unsteady. Her chest rose and fell slightly.
Mu Xi Yao took the palace fan3 from Hui Lan's hand and fanned it quickly, dispersing the faint smell of blood from her nose.
"No. Qie might not be able to fulfill your desire to leave contently. Qie fears that once qie says it, Wu'shi you will not be able to ease your mind."
"What can a servant who is going to die not endure?"
Mu Xi Yao disagreed with her desire to die with knowing the reason. Why not die simply? Was she asking so many questions just to bring grudges and unwillingness to the afterlife? One must learn to let go to obtain happiness.
"This servant cannot comprehend what kind of scent was on that note that caused cefei to hold on firmly to this servant and pronounce this servant's guilt with a single sentence." Such swift and ruthless disposal of her. She won't be able to even see that person's face for the last time.
Your Highness…..
Ow, still have time to think of her man? Mu Xi Yao's pettiness returned. Zhong Zheng Lin was now her personal pillow. Technically, he was her private possession. Demoness Mu had quite a revengeful nature.
Translation notes:
[1] To be locked in a small black room is an internet term that refers to a feature where users who violate community guidelines or rules are temporarily suspended from posting or commenting. It can also be used as a metaphor for being punished or reprimanded for something.
[2] Internal Affairs is a Hong Kong crime-action movie that tells a story of an undercover Hong Kong Police Force officer who infiltrates a Triad, and another officer who is secretly a spy for the same Triad.
[3] Palace fan is typically silk rigid hand fan; they are typically circular or oval in shape