"Third Young Master!"
In the West Flower Hall, Yan Changqing was accompanying the Prince of Shu and Second Young Master Pei for tea when he suddenly heard a maid loudly calling for him from outside—a rather reckless interruption.
He set down his teacup and stood up, first apologizing to the two distinguished guests, then hurried out of the hall. In a low voice, he scolded the maid who had shown such poor manners at the door, "What are you shouting about here?"
The maid who had come was Hongliu, who served Yaoniang. Her expression was anxious, a thin layer of sweat beading on her forehead, as if she had rushed here in a great hurry over some urgent matter.
Upon seeing Yan Changqing, she immediately knelt with a thud, weeping as she spoke, "Third Young Master, please forgive me! I had no choice! Yaoniang has been locked in the Punishment Hall. There hasn't been a single word of news these past few days—I don't even know if she's alive or dead. I'm terribly worried, but I didn't dare to beg Madam or the young ladies. When I heard you had returned to the estate, I rushed here without regard for propriety. Please, go and plead with Madam not to make things difficult for Yaoniang!"
At these words, Yan Changqing's mind went blank with a buzzing sound. He instinctively stepped away from the hall entrance, frowning as he asked in a low voice, "What happened to Concubine?"
But Hongliu, as if afraid someone might not hear, raised her voice anxiously, "I don't know either! They say she was framed by some Daoist priest and was directly locked in the Punishment Hall. I haven't even been able to see her face! Yaoniang has always been honest and obedient—I don't know if she'll even speak up for herself. What if something happens to her? What will we do then?"
Yan Changqing's heart instantly sank into an icy abyss. On one hand, he worried for his birth mother; on the other, he feared for his own future. His background was lowly, and he had originally hoped to leave a good impression on the distinguished guests from Beidu. Now, all that was ruined.
"Stop making a scene here. I'll ask Mother about it later," he said, though he knew deep down he shouldn't blame the maid for coming here to report this matter. Yet, a flicker of irritation and resentment still stirred within him.
Hongliu hesitated, stammering as if she wanted to say more but held back, "But… it wasn't Madam who locked her up…"
Yan Changqing: "Then who was it?"
"It was I who locked her up."
Yan Changfeng had just arrived from the main hall and overheard Hongliu lodging a complaint against her—a complaint that was half-concealed, half-revealed. On one hand, she had taken the initiative to come and tell Third Sister, seemingly eager to stir up trouble; on the other, she pretended not to dare say who was responsible. Anyone who didn't know the truth would surely think the Mistress of the Household was all-powerful, with such formidable methods that she left no room for the wives and concubines, not even allowing them a path to voice their grievances.
And in Third Sister's ears, these words would have a different effect. Third Sister was sensitive and proud. Even if she wouldn't misunderstand the Mistress as being domineering like an outsider would, she would still feel humiliated and direct her resentment and anger elsewhere.
What a masterful act of sowing discord!
A smile played at the corner of Yan Changfeng's lips as she glanced at Hongliu. "You didn't dare to beg me or Madam, yet you dared to lodge a complaint against me in front of guests. Should I say you're too timid or too bold?"
Hongliu shrank back, as if afraid of Yan Changfeng, and cowered, "S-Second Miss, how would I dare complain about you? Madam bought me—I am utterly loyal to Madam and to you! I… I was just worried about Yaoniang, so anxious that I sought help recklessly and ended up offending the guests. I didn't mean to! Please, Second Miss, forgive me! Second Miss, please don't drive me out!"
What a fine declaration of loyalty. The smile on Yan Changfeng's lips deepened. She had underestimated this maid—she had even managed to pin the blame for lodging the complaint on her and Mother!
"If you're so loyal, why would I drive you out?" Yan Changfeng signaled to Old Wu, who had followed her. "Take her away for now."
She had the guards from the front courtyard take the maid away instead of having the matrons from the rear courtyard do it, which clearly indicated that the destination was no comfortable place.
Hongliu immediately turned pale with fright, opening her mouth to wail, but the guard swiftly covered it and silently dragged her away.
Yan Changqing watched Hongliu being forcibly taken away, and the resentment in his heart seemed to ignite, exploding and shattering his reason. He recklessly questioned his second sister, "Second Sister, what are you doing?"
It was one thing to confine Concubine based on the slanderous words of a Daoist priest, but to actually, actually instruct Hongliu to expose this matter in front of everyone!
Yan Changfeng looked at Third Sister. This child was clever and capable, but also sensitive and insecure due to her background. She had clearly fallen into a trap.
But she offered no explanation. "Do you intend to discuss this matter here?"
Yan Changqing was taken aback, realizing that Second Sister was considering his dignity, and immediately felt somewhat ashamed.
Just moments ago, he had been stunned by the sudden news, led astray by Hongliu's words, and completely lost his reason. He had only thought that Hongliu was Madam's maid and had always been reliable; if not instructed, she wouldn't have acted so rashly. He had entirely forgotten that Mother and Second Sister were not such people.
"Second Sister, I…"
"Enough, we'll talk later." Yan Changfeng patted Third Sister's shoulder, then stepped into the parlor, putting on a polite smile as she apologized to the distinguished guests. "The maid in our household lacks manners, making a spectacle in front of His Highness the Prince of Shu and Young Master Pei."
Sheng Mingyu, without any airs, waved it off as if it were nothing unusual. "It's no big deal. Which household doesn't have a few unruly servants? But the tea in your home is uniquely fragrant—truly delightful."
Yan Changfeng couldn't help but take a few more glances at this Prince of Shu.
The Prince of Shu was the eleventh son of the current emperor. Rumors said he excelled in eating, drinking, and merrymaking, a frivolous idler of little use. Yet, from his attitude toward the Zhang siblings earlier to this polite small talk, everything carried a kind of wisdom hidden beneath his playful demeanor.
She offered the Prince of Shu a grateful smile. "This tea is produced from our family's tea plantation. There's nothing particularly special about it, but it has the advantage of being the first batch harvested. If Your Highness likes it, please take some back to enjoy."
The Prince of Shu accepted gladly. "Then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Pei Xiu, who had been rather quiet, politely declined on behalf of the Prince of Shu: "His Highness the Prince of Shu and I came to Jiangnan for leisure, with no intention of imposing. Please, Second Miss, do not go to any trouble or expense on our account. Simple fare will suffice."
Yan Changfeng's heart sank.
Indeed, the worst suspicion had been confirmed. The two distinguished guests' visit had not been publicly announced, which meant that the one who leaked their whereabouts could only be a member of the Yan Family.
Under Father's watchful eye, who could it be?
Suppressing her thoughts, Yan Changfeng replied with sincerity, "Your Highness and Young Master Pei have shown us great kindness, and the Yan Family has no way to repay it except by fulfilling our duties as hosts. Please do not decline."
Pei Xiu covered his mouth with a light cough, offering a faint smile, accepting her hospitality.
After Yan Changfeng excused herself and left, he lifted his gaze, lingering for a moment on her deliberately slowed steps. As if recalling something, he chuckled softly to himself.
With no members of the Yan Family left in the room, the Prince of Shu relaxed into his chair, his peach-blossom eyes roaming over Pei Xiu, who had stopped coughing. He chuckled lightly, "No wonder you insisted on escorting the Family Head of the Yan Family all the way back. Did you already foresee that there would be quite a show to watch in their household?"
Pei Xiu remained silent, which he took as tacit agreement. He then leisurely inquired, "But Pei Er, why aren't you reminding the Head of the Yan Family and instead hinting repeatedly to their Second Miss here? Is it because you see some masculine resolve in Second Miss, allowing her to take charge in this household, or…" He deliberately drew out his tone, "have you taken a fancy to her and are seizing the chance to curry favor?"
Pei Xiu didn’t fall for his trap, only offering an inscrutable smile.
The Prince of Shu could neither read his expression nor coax any words from him, sighing in boredom. "You really are no fun at all!"
The Punishment Hall was located in the southwest corner of the front courtyard, consisting of two rooms. One was used for punishing those who had erred, furnished with wooden benches and thorny rods—this was the Punishment Room. The other was for wall-facing reflection, with its windows sealed shut—this was the Dark Room. Yaoniang was confined in the Dark Room, while Hongliu was in the Punishment Room.
Yan Changfeng led Third Sister into the Punishment Room first.
The two rooms sounded intimidating, but in reality, there was nothing particularly frightening about them. The Yan Family had always been harmonious, free of unsavory affairs, and had no need for harsh interrogations or torture. These rooms were essentially just intimidating props. The person who had committed the most serious offense and been confined here was still Second Miss.
As a mischievous child, Second Miss would visit every now and then—either for driving away her tutor and being caned on the palms in the Punishment Hall, or for climbing walls, scaling trees, or secretly riding wild horses and breaking her leg, leading to confinement in the Dark Room for wall-facing reflection.
Second Miss was broad-minded and thick-skinned; even when confined, she never missed a meal or a nap. But Hongliu, a girl who valued her dignity and reputation, lacked such mental fortitude. Even though she had the courage to help Yaoniang pass notes and the audacity to report to Third Young Master, she couldn’t withstand this kind of psychological pressure.
When Yan Changfeng entered, the girl was curled up in a corner, trembling as if she were more terrified than prisoners awaiting public execution.
At the sight of Third Young Master, Hongliu could no longer hold back her tears, weeping pitifully like a drenched pear blossom. "Third Young Master, I truly had no ulterior motives. I beg you and Second Miss not to beat me. If I were beaten, I’d have no face left to show anyone!"
"Well, I haven’t even said a word yet, and you’ve already pinned the label of harsh interrogation on me," Yan Changfeng said, sitting in an armchair in the center of the room, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It’s fortunate I didn’t come in alone, or I’d have no way to clear my name."
Hongliu dared not speak further, only shrinking pitifully and exuding endless fragility toward her savior, Third Young Master.
Yan Changqing felt somewhat uneasy, as he didn’t quite understand why his second sister was punishing a maid so severely. In his view, Hongliu’s offense against a guest was wrong, but it didn’t warrant confinement here. Even he was afraid of this place, let alone a delicate young woman.
Just as he was about to plead for leniency, he heard Yan Changfeng ask, "Hongliu, I recall you entered our household as a child, right? You were placed in Yaoniang’s room by my mother after she gave birth, so you grew up by her side. It’s understandable that you’d have some affection for her, but I don’t believe that affection alone would make you lose your sense of right and wrong, helping her plot against the Family Head. Tell me, what did she promise you?"