Yun Wenfang pushed Jiang Yuan Niang under Wu Yiyu, arranged the two of them, then stroked his chin and gave them a glance.
On the rosewood carved canopy bed, Wu Yiyu slept soundly with her lapel open, pressing down on Jiang Yuan Niang whose fragrant skin was exposed. The maid lying beside them, however, had torn clothes and was tied to the bedpost, looking as if she had been ravaged.
The scene was truly sensual, yet Yun Wenfang, the troublemaker who had orchestrated it all, showed not a hint of lust. He stretched lazily and walked leisurely out of the side room.
Jiang Yuan Niang’s maids waited outside for a while. One of them, clutching her stomach, smiled apologetically at Wu Yiyu’s maid and said, “Sister, my stomach hurts a bit. Could I borrow the servants’ privy in this courtyard? I’ll walk carefully and won’t disturb the mistresses.”
Wu Yiyu’s maid frowned. “That won’t do. Our Eldest Miss has many rules. You’ll have to bear it.”
This senior maid of Jiang Yuan Niang’s was named Qiu Xiang. She had been carefully trained by the Jiang Family to serve as Jiang Yuan Niang’s dowry maid in the future. Since Jiang Yuan Niang’s appearance was rather plain, several pretty maids had been specially selected as dowry maids to help win over the future husband. Qiu Xiang was not only beautiful but also clever, making her Jiang Yuan Niang’s confidante.
“Oh, how can I bear it? If I embarrass myself in front of the mistress later, it’ll be terrible.” Qiu Xiang hunched over, clutching her stomach, and glanced around. Then she said to another of Jiang Yuan Niang’s maids, “You wait here for the young lady. I’ll go to the courtyard not far ahead to use the privy. I remember that’s where the Tang Family’s young ladies are staying. I know two of Third Miss Tang’s maids.”
The other maid agreed. Wu Yiyu’s maid, seeing Qiu Xiang’s flushed face from holding back, couldn’t help but want to laugh and didn’t stop her.
Qiu Xiang immediately ran off, clutching her stomach. When she reached the Tang Family’s courtyard, she glanced back, saw no one paying attention, straightened up, and quickly ran around the front gate of the courtyard.
Instead of returning to the Jiang Family’s courtyard to call for help, Qiu Xiang ran toward the Yun Family’s courtyard.
Qiu Xiang reasoned that if something really was wrong, others would likely be unwilling to offend Wu Yiyu for an unrelated person. The senior from the Jiang Family who had come this time was the First Madam of the main branch. Her own daughter had fallen suddenly ill and was now staying at a separate residence in the city, so she hadn’t come to the hot spring villa. Here, the Jiang Family had no senior who could make decisions.
Since the Thousand Gold Banquet was organized by the Yun Family, they were considered half-hosts. Moreover, the Yun Family Eldest Miss was on good terms with her own young lady. She thought it should be acceptable to ask the Yun Family Eldest Miss to come and check.
Meanwhile, after meeting with Wu Yiyu, Ren Yaoyin, afraid that the slap mark on her face would be seen, did not return to the peach grove. She sent someone to inform Ren Yaohua and went back to the Ren Family’s courtyard, carefully applying another layer of powder to conceal any traces.
Not long after she finished, the other young ladies of the Ren Family also returned. The First Madam sent someone to call them to her room for a talk.
Ren Yaoying was the last to arrive. The First Madam said unhappily, “I heard you left early this morning, and again this afternoon. I didn’t see you in the courtyard either. Where did you go?”Ren Yaoying glanced towards Ren Yaohua, pursed her lips and lowered her head, wearing a look of grievance as she mumbled, "I... I was just looking for Chuner. I’m not used to being without her to attend to me."
Ren Yaohua didn’t even lift her eyelids, only speaking when First Madam looked her way: "That wretched servant dared to overstep her bounds. To prevent her from causing any more trouble and shaming our third branch, I’ve already sent her back for my mother to deal with."
First Madam had also heard about the dispute between the sisters. Although she disapproved of Ren Yaoying’s actions, she was still displeased that Ren Yaohua had dealt with the matter quietly without even notifying her.
However, Ren Yaohua had made it clear that this was an internal matter of their third branch, and since it was already done, First Madam didn’t want to waste any more words on it. She said calmly, "I hope you all understand where you are now. If anyone causes embarrassment at this critical time, it won’t just be a matter for one person or one branch. I will report this matter to Old Madam Ren when I return. You sisters should all behave yourselves."
Ren Yaohua lowered her head and acknowledged the instruction, while Ren Yaoying said nothing more, even relieved that First Madam didn’t press further about where she had gone that day.
First Madam then asked Ren Yaoyin, "I heard you weren’t feeling well? Should we call a physician?"
Ren Yaoyin shook her head and smiled, "I’m fine. I just got a headache from the wind, but I rested for a while and feel better now."
Seeing that although her makeup was somewhat heavy, she didn’t appear ill, First Madam said nothing more. Ren Yaoyin had always been clever and sensible, rarely causing her any worry.
"By the way, Mother, after the Thousand Gold Banquet ends tomorrow, will we set off for White Crane Town immediately?" Ren Yaoyin asked.
First Madam thought for a moment: "In previous years, the Thousand Gold Banquet ended by noon on the third day. Since your grandmother and I are both in Yunyang City, and there’s no one managing affairs at home, it’s best to return early."
Ren Yaoyin frowned: "Fifth Sister and I still have quite a few things at Aunt’s residence. Should we send someone back early to pack?"
"Tomorrow morning, you can send two maidservants back to pack. If it really can’t be done in time, there’s no harm in you two returning a day later. You sisters can discuss it among yourselves."
Ren Yaoyin nodded: "Then shall we send someone to invite Fifth Sister over? Let her stay for dinner today, as there may not be time to discuss this tomorrow."
First Madam agreed.
When the group left First Madam’s room, Ren Yaoyin said to Ren Yaohua, "Third Sister, since Chuner isn’t here, I’ve sent Shuangjiang to serve Ninth Sister temporarily. Why don’t you send someone to invite Fifth Sister?"
When they entered the mountain villa, each of them had brought only two maidservants. After Ren Yaohua sent Chuner away, Ren Yaoying’s other maidservant was too frightened to appear before Ren Yaohua and feigned illness, so Ren Yaoyin sent one of her own maidservants to serve Ren Yaoying instead.
Ren Yaohua couldn’t see any trick in this, so she instructed Wujing to invite Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi was surprised when she learned that Ren Yaohua had sent someone to invite her to the Ren Family’s residence. Outsiders couldn’t easily enter the Moon Embracing Pavilion, so Ren Yaoqi sent Pingguo out to check. Pingguo reported that the visitor was indeed Wujing from Ren Yaohua’s side. After delivering the message, Wujing returned.Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then said to Xiao Jinglin, who was sitting nearby teasing Silly Girl, "I previously asked Second Young Master to help me keep an eye on a few people. Can I meet with them now?"
Xiao Jinglin tried to pull her sleeve out of Silly Girl's mouth, but the little tiger stubbornly refused to let go, eventually dangling from the fabric. Seeing that Xiao Jinglin's sleeve was about to tear off, Ren Yaoqi quickly stepped forward and picked up Silly Girl, gently scratching its neck. Silly Girl squinted its eyes and released its grip.
Xiao Jinglin gave Silly Girl a light pat, then stood up and said, "That's easy enough. I'll take you there."
Silly Girl let out an "aowu" sound, nuzzling against Ren Yaoqi's embrace and refusing to be put down. Ren Yaoqi couldn't hold it for long and looked helpless.
Xiao Jinglin pinched the soft flesh on its neck, lifted it up, and tossed it to Hongying, saying disdainfully, "Carry it out with you. From now on, don't let it play with the cat named 'Snow White' that Nanny Xin is raising. Otherwise, in a few days, even its own mother won't recognize it as a tiger."
Silly Girl lay contentedly in Hongying's arms, happily licking its paws.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but smile.
Just as Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi stepped out of Moon Embracing Pavilion, they saw Xiao Jingxi appear in the corridor not far ahead.
Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi exchanged a glance and stopped walking. When Xiao Jingxi approached, Xiao Jinglin asked, "Why are you here? We were just about to look for you."
Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly and turned to Ren Yaoqi. "There's news about the people you asked me to keep an eye on."
Ren Yaoqi quickly asked, "Has something happened?"
Xiao Jingxi gestured for them to walk a few steps and talk in a nearby pavilion. The hot spring villa was built in the style of a Jiangnan garden, with many pavilions and waterside pavilions for resting. The pavilion offered an open view and ensured no one could eavesdrop.
Xiao Jingxi concisely relayed the information reported by his subordinates to Ren Yaoqi.
After listening, Ren Yaoqi looked surprised. "Second Young Master Yun knocked out Miss Wu, Miss Jiang, and a maid, placed them in a side room of a courtyard, and then left himself?"
What was Yun Wenfang trying to do?
Actually, after Yun Wenfang left, Xiao Jingxi's subordinates went into the west wing to take a look.
However, their orders were only to keep an eye on Yun Wenfang and Wu Yiyu and to intervene if Miss Ren encountered danger. The others were not within their scope of responsibility.
So, those following Yun Wenfang continued to tail him as he climbed over the courtyard wall, while those watching Wu Yiyu reported the situation back to Xiao Jingxi.
After some thought, Xiao Jingxi decided not to disclose the specific circumstances of Jiang Yuan Niang and Wu Yiyu.
Given the situation, it was better for Ren Yaoqi not to get involved in this matter, especially since it had nothing to do with her in the first place.
"Miss Jiang's maid has already asked Yun Family Eldest Miss to go over. It's best if you don't go there now."
As a man, Xiao Jingxi couldn't intervene in such matters directly. He only sent people separately to Old Madam Yun and the Princess Consort.
After receiving the news, the Princess Consort only sent Nanny Xin to find Old Madam Yun. She did not make an appearance herself, nor did she show any awareness of the matter. The Princess Consort could already foresee that if she were to handle this matter personally, regardless of the outcome, Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei would hold it against her.Jiang Yuan Niang's maid happened to run into Yun Qiuchen halfway, so Yun Qiuchen should have been the earliest to arrive.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but fall into deep thought, a faint suspicion beginning to form in her mind.
No one understood Yun Wenfang's malicious temperament better than she did—after all, in her previous life, she had been the one to fall into his hands.
End of the month, seeking pink votes... seeking pink votes... ｀（∩_∩）′.
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