Yu Mingyue deliberately mentioned San Niang in front of Xiu He. As expected, upon hearing the name San Niang, Xiu He's eyes flickered with a hint of unnaturalness before she lowered her head again.
Impossible, how could there be such a coincidence.
"Young master comes from a wealthy family, why worry about finding a cook for a bowl of wonton noodles? Why bother with her? Get out quickly, you ungrateful thing," said Miss Pipa.
Yu Mingyue nodded, "Indeed, my Song family is not lacking in cooks."
Du Rui's eyes widened twofold upon hearing the name Song family. As expected, adults were more cunning.
Yu Mingyue spoke of the Song family with great confidence. Her original intention in Yangzhou was to do good deeds.
Xiu He's hands unconsciously clutched her collar upon hearing the Song family. Was it the Song family from the capital?
"Young master, let's continue playing. Don't let her spoil the mood," the pipa girl leaned on Yu Mingyue's shoulder. Yu Mingyue casually held her small hand and gently stroked it, "You are sensible, much more sensible than my third sister, San Niang."
"Hurry up and get out, you're an eyesore standing here," the other two girls said.
Xiu He put on a look of extreme fear and deference. While admitting her fault with her head bowed, she retreated from the room. As she exited, her glance towards Yu Mingyue conveyed a sense of mutual understanding.
Yu Mingyue considered herself to have a decent tolerance for alcohol, but naturally, she couldn't compare to women who worked in pleasure houses. Yu Mingyue had important matters to attend to shortly and dared not drink further. She asked Li Fu to keep the women occupied while she excused herself to relieve herself.
As soon as Xiu He left the room, she found a secluded corner where she could observe people entering and exiting the room and waited.
Seeing Yu Mingyue emerge, she hurried forward, "Is young master surnamed Song, from the capital?"
Yu Mingyue fanned herself with a proud expression, "My father is indeed the Grand General of the Qianniu Guard stationed before the throne."
The Meng family in Yangzhou relied on the prestige of Song Wei's name to swagger. Mentioning Song Wei's name was naturally more imposing than Song Yuming.
Xiu He fell to her knees with a thud, "This servant is a maid from the Meng family. My young lady is Meng San Niang."
"How is Meng San Niang's maid here?"
"This servant was sold off. I begged the matchmaker to disfigure myself so that I could remain in Yangzhou city," Xiu He spoke in a hurried tone, lowering her voice as if afraid of being overheard.
Yu Mingyue was certain she had found the right person by seeking out this maid.
Yu Mingyue helped Xiu He up, "Speak while you're standing. I will find a way to redeem you and take you away from Chunhua Tower later."
Xiu He, however, shook her head firmly, "This servant willingly entered Chunhua Tower. This servant will not leave."
"Why?"
Xiu He shook her head with a sorrowful expression, but said nothing.
"Since you have found me, you wish for me to seek justice for your young lady. If you say nothing, how can I seek justice for her? I already went to offer incense at her grave yesterday. My purpose here is fulfilled. If nothing unexpected happens, I will return to the capital tomorrow!" Yu Mingyue decided to pressure her.
As expected, Xiu He became anxious, "It's not that I won't say, it's just..." Xiu He bit her lip, "Could young master… step aside for a moment to talk?"
Li Fu had gone out earlier not only to confirm Xiu He's identity but also to find an empty room. After all, as long as money was involved, nothing was impossible.
Once inside the room, Xiu He began to speak, "My young lady was merely an insignificant concubine's daughter, very timid, never fighting for anything. This servant has been by her side since the age of six. My young lady treated this servant like a sister. Even a piece of cake would be shared with this servant. My young lady has been kind to this servant, and this servant is willing to serve her for a lifetime. As my young lady grew up, the madam, seeing her beauty, thought she could be profitable, and thus treated her slightly better."
Yu Mingyue listened patiently, not interrupting Xiu He, and let her continue, "The madam originally planned for my young lady to become a concubine to the son of Governor Luo. Later, a letter arrived from the capital, and the engagement between young master and my young lady was decided. Although my young lady had never met young master, her heart was willing. She even thought that upon arriving in the capital, she would beg the madam for mercy to bring Concubine Fang to the capital to enjoy her old age. Everything was going well, but…"
At this point, Xiu He's eyes turned fierce. But Magistrate Meng hosted a banquet for the Yangzhou officials, and the governor and his son were also among the invited guests.
Because the Meng family broke the engagement, Luo Jingyu, the second son of the Luo family, harbored resentment. Due to the Song family's connections, he dared not openly fall out with the Meng family. After drinking, fueled by alcohol, he broke into Meng San Niang's courtyard and vented his anger on Meng San Niang.
As Meng San Niang was out of favor, she only had Xiu He as her maid. Xiu He desperately tried to stop him but was kicked away by Luo Jingyu. She hit her head on the doorframe and lost consciousness.
"Luo Jingyu left the banquet without permission and trespassed into the inner courtyard. Did no one stop him? Did your madam not know?" Yu Mingyue asked.
She knew the layout of the Meng family residence. The back quarters were some distance from the main hall where guests were entertained. There would have been guards along the way. Such an incident could not possibly be kept secret.
"How could the madam not know? My young lady cried for a long time, almost hanging herself. But the madam not only did not seek justice for her, but accused her of being immodest and seducing Luo Jingyu. She even told my young lady to pretend it never happened and obediently marry into the capital. She even said… she even said that with Madam Song and the son-in-law, they wouldn't dare do anything, so she had no choice but to accept…"
"If that's the case, then how did your young lady die on the boat?" Yu Mingyue was surprised that the Meng family dared to be so audacious and conceal such an incident.
It seemed that Song Yuming's life in the Song family was even more difficult than she had imagined.
Xiu He's eyes were red, filled with tears, "A few days before departure, my young lady discovered she was pregnant. She begged the madam to send her to the family temple and never marry, but the madam refused, saying that an engagement had been made and my young lady belonged to the Song family in life and death. So she ordered the wet nurse to force-feed my young lady an abortifacient after she boarded the ship. By the time the ship reached the capital, her body would have mostly recovered…"
Fearing that the news would leak, Madam Meng sold off Xiu He. Xiu He had intended to find a way to go to the capital to find Meng San Niang, but she heard of her death.
The wedding of the Song family in the capital was quite grand. However, a few days later, the bridal escort ship returned. Meng San Niang's death could no longer be concealed.
"This servant quietly inquired. My young lady died from excessive blood loss due to the abortifacient and lack of care. The blood stained the mattress and the ship's planks. Magistrate Tongpan said my young lady was unlucky and disgraced the Meng family. He originally intended to abandon her body in a mass grave. It was Concubine Fang who pleaded with him for mercy, and only then did they find a place to bury her hastily. My young lady was killed by the Meng family and Luo Jingyu. This servant remaining in Yangzhou is to avenge my young lady. Without this revenge, this servant will die with regret…"
"Is this why you remained at Chunhua Tower?"
Xiu He nodded, "Luo Jingyu spends more than half of the month in Yangzhou, and during this time, he frequents this place for pleasure. He relies on his father being the governor, colludes with the漕帮 (caobang - river transport guild) to oppress the people, and extorts their wealth. The Yangzhou 漕帮 is actually controlled by Luo Jingyu. Magistrate Meng should have reported this to the imperial court, but instead, he colluded with the Luo father and son. They all deserve to die. Even if this servant kills them, it would be eliminating harm for the people."