"We are from the General's mansion. If they need to be taught a lesson, the Madam can do it. The County Princess is not yet married, and doing such things would be unbecoming of her status."
"I didn't expect it, your maid is plain-looking, yet her tongue is so sharp. I am here on behalf of your Madam to teach you some manners. Since you are so eager to stand out, let's start with you."
Xiao Yao flicked her sleeve, bringing forth a gust of palm wind infused with internal energy. Rong Zhi was sent flying and landed on the ground, her hand scraped open.
Just as Xiao Yao was about to further discipline Dong Mei, a voice suddenly rang out.
"It's not very appropriate for the County Princess to cause trouble in my General's mansion, is it?"
Xia Yunting, seemingly casually, blocked Rong Zhi. Xia Jin followed closely behind, head lowered and silent, looking like he had just been scolded.
"General Xia, you've arrived just in time. I have something I wish to ask you."
"What is it?"
"A while ago, the General went missing. Where did you go?"
"I was being pursued and ended up in hiding, recuperating in a small county town."
"Which county town?"
"Changping County."
Xiao Yao was taken aback by how straightforwardly he answered. She continued, "I went to Changping County and saw someone who looked very much like you, with a young woman by his side."
"What was the County Princess doing in Changping County?"
"..." This question stumped Xiao Yao. If she said that Xing Jia Hui had sent her to Changping County to find someone, it might bring trouble to Xing Jia Hui.
"I was sightseeing. What business is it of yours? Just tell me, was there a woman with you in Changping County? The Emperor has decreed a marriage, yet you refuse to bring Xing Jia Hui into your household, and instead seek other women outside."
"County Princess, you should have proof when you speak such words," Xia Yunting's voice turned cold.
Just as Xiao Yao was about to argue, a young maid ran over, bowed hastily to Xia Yunting, and then said to Xiao Yao, "County Princess, the Madam is looking for you."
Xiao Yao nodded and said to Xia Yunting, "You wait. If I ever catch you red-handed, I won't let you off. If you treat Jia Hui poorly, you are my enemy!" With that, she followed the maid away.
As soon as she left, Xia Yunting's gaze fell upon Rong Zhi and Dong Mei.
Rong Zhi patted the dirt off her clothes and stood up. The palm strike earlier felt like a mere tickle to her. She had only pretended to be hurt, and her hand was only slightly scraped.
Dong Mei had taken the kick squarely. While Xiao Yao was present, she dared not utter a sound. Now that Xiao Yao was gone, she could no longer hold back and began to weep, looking utterly pitiful.
Xia Yunting was about to say something, but Rong Zhi gave him a subtle wink. He then left without looking back.
Xia Jin glared at Dong Mei, "It's all your fault. If you hadn't stirred up trouble, would the General have gotten so angry?"
He then turned his gaze to Rong Zhi, "You useless lot, what did I teach you for? Have you forgotten everything? You're like lumps of wood! If this continues, I'll dismiss you all!"
He grumbled angrily. Rong Zhi remained silent until he finished his tirade and left. Only then did Rong Zhi feign complaint, "He's truly unreasonable. He teaches us things but doesn't care if we can use them, then lectures us."
Dong Mei saw that everyone had left and immediately stopped crying. She sighed at Rong Zhi, "We were all maids from good families, yet they forced us to learn those seductress skills to entice men. How can we do that? Chun Tao, don't stand up for me anymore. Even if I get beaten or scolded, as long as I can get the General's attention, I have a chance. If I can rise, your good days won't be far off."
Rong Zhi nodded, "Yes, let's go back and apply some medicine."
Meanwhile, Xing Jia Hui was sighing in her room.
"Why did you go to scold those maids for me? Now I'm confined, and if you offend Xia Yunting again, he might stop visiting. Then I'll have no one to talk to."
She appeared wronged, but inwardly cursed Xiao Yao for being brainless. If she wanted to teach a lesson, she should have found a secluded place. To act so openly in the General's mansion's inner quarters was to give them leverage. Then Xia Yunting would have another excuse not to come to her.
"How dare he!" Xiao Yao had a fiery temper. Hearing Xing Jia Hui's tearful complaints earlier had already made her feel indignant on her behalf. Although she had some reservations about Xing Jia Hui before, facing her good friend's grievances, those complaints vanished. That's why she had taught that little maid a lesson. Now, hearing her say this, she felt that Xia Yunting had wronged her.
"You are betrothed by imperial decree. This is all Duan Xu Cheng's fault. He was infatuated and pestered you relentlessly. He wanted to frame Xia Yunting but ended up implicating you. If Xia Yunting were truly intelligent, he wouldn't have locked you up without rhyme or reason."
"It's nothing for me to be confined for a few days. Oh right, you mentioned going to Changping County and seeing someone who looked like Xia Yunting with a woman. Did you find out if it was really Xia Yunting?"
Xiao Yao shook her head, "I wanted to investigate but lost track of them. However..." Xiao Yao's mind flashed with Chu Qingze's image, her eyes lit up, "I know someone related to him, right here in the Imperial City."
"Where?"
After leaving the General's mansion, Xiao Yao headed straight for Chu Qingze's residence. Xing Jia Hui's words still echoed in her ears.
"I heard that Xia Yunting did know a woman in Changping County. If you can help me find that woman, you can find out what Xia Yunting did in Changping County, and I can finally be at ease. You are the only one I can rely on now. You must help me."
Xiao Yao was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to hear others plead. Naturally, she agreed immediately, willing to go through fire and water for her good friend.
However, before she could find Chu Qingze, she suddenly bumped into a figure. Dressed in black, tall and imposing, with hair and beard streaked with white. Those eyes, however, bore an eight-tenths resemblance to Xiao Yao.
Xiao Yao's fierce demeanor instantly subsided, "Father..."
"Where are you coming from?" Lord Xiao's voice was aged, but his authority remained.
"I... I came from the General's mansion."
"Don't associate with the General's mansion recently. Go home."
"But Father..."
"Hmm?"
"Alright." Xiao Yao feared nothing in the world except her father. She planned to go home for now and come out again when her father let his guard down.
Unexpectedly, upon returning home, Xiao Yao was immediately surrounded by numerous Qian Ying guards, forming an impenetrable barrier.
"Without my command, she is not to step outside this house."
Seeing Lord Xiao's stern expression, Xiao Yao was somewhat surprised, "Father, did something happen?"
Lord Xiao didn't speak, merely instructed the Qian Ying guards to keep a close eye on Xiao Yao and then turned and left.
Outside, a carriage was already parked.
A person was waiting by the carriage, it was Xing Jie. Upon seeing Lord Xiao, Xing Jie greeted him with a smile, "Your Lordship, where are you going?"
Lord Xiao stopped and his eyes showed impatience. "Prime Minister, the Emperor is currently investigating the affairs of the Imperial Hospital. To avoid suspicion, I must beg your pardon, but I cannot entertain you. Please return, sir."
Xing Jie's smile froze. Watching Lord Xiao's receding back, his mouth twitched.
"It's truly a case of everyone kicking a man when he's down. They were all polite before, and now anyone can step on me." He sighed.
A major case had recently occurred in the Imperial Hospital, and he was implicated. Those who had smiled at him before now offered no word of support.
Truly, human relationships are cold, and the world is fickle.
Meanwhile, Rong Zhi was unaware of the events unfolding outside. She was trying to pry information from Xia He and Qiu Ju, wanting to ask what they were forced to learn back then.
Mentioning this matter made Xia He frown, as if recalling unpleasant memories.
"When the human traffickers bought us, they only said we were to be maids. But later, they invited women from brothels to teach us to dance, sing, and... things in bed. They said they were sending us to be concubines. We didn't believe it at first. Officials and ministers, even their concubines, should have some status. Why would they casually bring in a few maids?"
"Yes." Qiu Ju looked at Rong Zhi, pity in her eyes. "You tried to run away back then and were beaten. After we came in, we didn't even have a chance to get close to the General. Those skills probably went to waste."
So that's how it was. Rong Zhi also found it strange.
For the next half month, Xiao Yao did not visit the General's mansion. Xing Jia Hui was confined, and Mother Gu did not go around dictating things. Rong Zhi and the others had a period of peace.
Rong Zhi had originally wanted to extract more information from these young women, but they seemed to know not much themselves. They only knew that they were meant to attract Xia Yunting's attention.
Xia He and Qiu Ju were both adaptable young women. Finding that they could live peacefully even if they did nothing, they cast aside their previous notions and settled down to be maids. Only Dong Mei relentlessly sought to attract Xia Yunting's attention every day, finding ways to appear in his sight.
The effect was noticeable. Xia Yunting had Xia Jin arrange Dong Mei in a position far from his study, making even meeting him difficult.
"How can this be!" Dong Mei was so angry that she ripped off the potted plants in the corner.
"Is it that my beauty is not enough?"
Rong Zhi said, "Dong Mei, why don't you take a break recently? If the Madam finds out, you'll likely be punished again. Moderation is key."
"No, the Madam is confined now, this is a great opportunity for us to shine. We can't give up like this."
She seemed to have an idea and her eyes suddenly lit up, "I've got it..."
At night, Dong Mei avoided everyone and secretly went to the corridor connecting the back courtyard to the front gate. She found a night watchman and whispered something to him, even giving him a piece of silver.
The watchman accepted the silver, nodded, and sent Dong Mei away.
Dong Mei thought everything was done stealthily, unaware that Rong Zhi, observing from the shadows, had seen it all.
Watching Dong Mei return to her room with a smug look, Rong Zhi yawned.
Initially, Rong Zhi had some interest in these maids, but after they had been here for so long without any impressive moves, she felt there was no need for her to be an informant anymore.
Before leaving, Rong Zhi took a detour to the study and told Xia Yunting what she had just witnessed.
"In my opinion, they won't cause any major trouble. There's no need to keep them under guard."
Xia Yunting had not yet slept, reading a book on military strategy by lamplight. Seeing Rong Zhi yawn listlessly, he said, "Since they aren't trying to spy on me, they must have another purpose. Xia Jin wouldn't have brought them in without reason."
"Could it be that you're overthinking it? Perhaps Xia Jin simply wants to please you and gain your trust?"
"To please me with four common maids?"