The little maid in green stamped her foot. “Oh, I’ll take your place!”
Xing Yu instinctively looked toward Xiao Yunzhu.
Xiao Yunzhu smiled. “Sister Xing Yu, do as you please.”
Xing Yu thanked her and hurried off down the left corridor.
The green-clad maid grinned. “This servant is Tao Xin, here to attend Sixth Miss.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “I’ll trouble you then.”
Mistress and maid followed Tao Xin onward.
Tao Xin was livelier than Xing Yu. As they walked, she said, “Sixth Miss must be tired? Shall I call for a soft sedan chair?”
Xiao Yunzhu: “No need.”
Tao Xin didn’t press, only smiled. “It’s not far—just two more side courtyards.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “All right.”
Qing Zhi supported her arm and gave her a secret squeeze.
Xiao Yunzhu nodded slightly, showing she understood. Though she had visited the Xu residence two or three times, she had never wandered about and was unfamiliar with it. But surely the courtyard for female guests to change clothes should not be too far from the garden they frequented.
The route Tao Xin led was too secluded, with fewer and fewer people.
After about half a quarter-hour, they turned past a clump of Xiangfei bamboo. Tao Xin pointed to a small courtyard ahead. “Sixth Miss, we’ve arrived!”
“Arrived?” Xiao Yunzhu stopped, raising her eyes. She saw the courtyard door half open, tranquil and elegant, with a great parasol tree inside.
Tao Xin smiled. “It shouldn’t have taken so long. But I thought, since Sixth Miss’s clothes were wet, you might not wish to meet others, so I led you on a longer path.”
Xiao Yunzhu’s smile was faint, half-amused. “What a clever little maid.”
Everything was explained so clearly, as if to dispel any suspicion she might have.
Tao Xin bowed slightly. “Sixth Miss flatters me. Please, enter!”
Xiao Yunzhu smiled, slipped off the gold ring from her left little finger, and handed it to her.
Tao Xin was overjoyed. “Thank you, Sixth Miss, for the reward!”
Xiao Yunzhu shook her head. “This is not a reward—it’s a bribe.”
Tao Xin: “…A bribe?”
Xiao Yunzhu: “Go back and tell the one who sent you that you’ve already lured me into that courtyard, so they can proceed with their plan.”
Tao Xin’s face changed drastically. “This servant doesn’t know what Sixth Miss is talking about!”
Xiao Yunzhu’s smile turned cold. “Is that so? Then let’s go to the main hall and ask Madam Xu where Cuiwei Courtyard really is.”
Tao Xin’s eyes darted nervously, trying to flee, but Qing Zhi seized her firmly.
Xiao Yunzhu spoke slowly and clearly: “You have three choices. First, do as I say and earn two rewards. Second, come with me to Madam Xu and face heavy punishment. Third, pretend to agree with me, then secretly run away.”
Tao Xin struggled to argue. “Sixth Miss Xiao, this servant only took the wrong path!”
Xiao Yunzhu: “If you choose the first, I guarantee I won’t retaliate. If you choose the second, you know the consequences. If you choose the third, and I can’t find you in the Xu residence, I’ll have your portrait drawn and take it to the court, accusing you of stealing my property. They’ll hunt you down without fail.”
Qing Zhi added, “My lady’s painting skills are unmatched—her portraits look exactly like the real person. And the Minister of Justice is an old friend of our Marquis.”
The first part was true—her mistress had studied painting with a master from the Western Regions, producing lifelike portraits. The second part was pure bluff—the current Minister of Justice had no ties to the Xiao family.
Only now did Tao Xin truly feel fear. Trembling, she pleaded, “Sixth Miss, spare me!”
She had been taught how to respond if exposed, how to deflect Xiao Yunzhu’s questioning. But Xiao Yunzhu hadn’t asked anything at all!
It was strange—who wouldn’t demand answers in such a situation? Why was Xiao Yunzhu instead coercing her? It made no sense!
Xiao Yunzhu: “So you choose the second option? Very well.”
Without hesitation, she turned back toward the lively hall, Qing Zhi dragging Tao Xin behind.
Tao Xin struggled desperately, but could not break free.
The Xiao family had earned their title through military merit, generations valuing martial skill. Even Xiao Yunzhu’s maids had learned basic combat. They couldn’t defeat strong men, but restraining a little maid was easy.
As they neared the crowded area, Tao Xin broke down. “Sixth Miss, I choose the first! The first!”
If the matter were exposed by her, she would be ruined even if not killed. So she could never choose the second. Nor the third—how could a mere maid dare to face the Court of Justice? Only the first offered survival.
After all, the one behind this was not the mistress of the household. To punish her, they would need a reason. If she avoided suspicion, perhaps she could escape.
Xiao Yunzhu smiled. “That’s better.” Lowering her voice, she added, “Later, if that person troubles you, insist that I had already entered the courtyard before you reported it. As for how I came out again—you don’t know.”
Tao Xin: “Yes. Thank you, Sixth Miss, for your guidance.”
Xiao Yunzhu chuckled softly. “You’re welcome. Now go.”
Tao Xin suspected Xiao Yunzhu already knew who was behind it and what they intended. She gave her a complicated look, then lowered her head and ran off.
Qing Zhi frowned. “Without changing clothes, won’t you be cold, Miss?”
Xiao Yunzhu lifted her skirt slightly. “Not cold—it’s nearly dry.”
The summer heat made clothes dry quickly. Only stains remained, which, upon closer look, were not very presentable.
Qing Zhi whispered, “Miss, there’s something I don’t understand. Xing Yu clearly knew Tao Xin—so isn’t Tao Xin afraid Xing Yu will expose her?”
Xiao Yunzhu sighed. “What is there to fear? If I’m not mistaken, they already prepared a whole story to frame me. If I had fallen into their trap, the more I pursued it, the worse it would be for me.”
If she hadn’t fallen for it, normally, there would be no need to pursue further. But she did not act according to convention. Whoever tried to scheme against her would have to pay the price.
The young ladies were still enjoying flowers and chatting when a little maid hurried in, whispering something into Xu Wanyue’s ear.
Xu Wanyue exclaimed, “What?!”
Xiao Ruqiong heard and laughed, asking, “Why so startled? What happened?”
Xu Wanyue hesitated, then whispered it to her.
Xiao Ruqiong’s eyes widened suddenly. She froze for a few moments before crying out, “Impossible! I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it!”
She stood up as she spoke, ordering the maid beside her: “Go tell Madam to come to Mingxi Courtyard, say the heir has had an incident!”
“Yes!” The maid ran off.
“Wait!” Xiao Ruqiong called her back. “Tell Madam this has nothing to do with the heir’s health—no need to summon a physician.”
The maid agreed and ran off again. Xiao Ruqiong’s face turned cold as she strode quickly toward Mingxi Courtyard.
The young ladies, not knowing what had happened, naturally followed.
Xu Wanyue, seeing the commotion, felt uneasy and called out, “Fourth Sister, don’t rush—it might be a misunderstanding!”
Xiao Ruqiong ignored her, walking faster and faster. When she passed the clump of Xiangfei bamboo, she didn’t pause, but went straight into the small courtyard ahead.