Before Su Xiaoqi could fully process this, another person approached and greeted her warmly.
Su Xiaoqi abandoned her thought of catching up with the previous person and mustered her energy to respond.
"Madam Shen." The newcomer was Huang Yaying, the eldest legitimate daughter-in-law of Xu Shijie.
She was also someone who had experienced the Empty Mountain incident with her.
She was the closest person to Su Xiaoqi among the group, aside from Wen Ruohua.
This was because not long ago, Su Xiaoqi had just completed a winter clothing business deal with Huang Yaying's father-in-law.
They naturally had many interactions.
Moreover, Su Xiaoqi had diagnosed Huang Yaying, whose body had been affected by sterilization medicine.
She had actually found a way to reverse it.
Once this was revealed, their relationship immediately became closer.
While everyone else merely nodded in greeting to Su Xiaoqi, Huang Yaying walked up to her alone to say a few words.
"I saw you last night.
But you were busy, so I didn't dare to disturb you.
You are truly a capable person. If it were me, I wouldn't even dare to imagine such a thing."
Huang Yaying was speaking the truth.
When she saw Su Xiaoqi last night, her first thought was to greet her.
After all, she and Su Xiaoqi were quite close and considered friends.
But Su Xiaoqi had been constantly busy.
She had even cooperated with the Duke of Yu's household to repel the rebels who intended to kill them.
Thinking of herself, let alone organizing anything, she was someone who feared weapons and blood upon seeing them.
She couldn't imagine why Su Xiaoqi not only wasn't afraid but dared to confront them.
She even showed no fear of the arrows shot at her.
So composed and so formidable, her admiration for Su Xiaoqi grew.
This made her unable to resist calling out to her.
At the same time, there was something she wanted to tell Su Xiaoqi to avoid any misunderstandings.
Su Xiaoqi welcomed her to the side to talk. Huang Yaying said:
"Madam Song's behavior just now had a reason."
Su Xiaoqi blinked and asked, "Why? I don't recall doing anything to them."
As for her showing them a cold shoulder in broad daylight.
"The last incident, alas, we all prefer not to mention it, but we couldn't help it, we encountered it.
We were relatively fortunate, it was only the first time, and you timely intervened to save us.
But Bai Yuzhu, do you know her? Her first child was born after performing rituals with Empty Mountain.
However, her family currently has no evidence, so they can't say anything.
But her situation at home is not as good as it used to be."
It was easy to understand that in this era, a woman who couldn't bear children would be blamed so severely.
If the child's origin was illegitimate and she wasn't divorced, it was already considered giving her face.
"But what does that matter to me?" Su Xiaoqi was somewhat speechless.
"Bai Yuzhu believes that if you hadn't exposed Empty Mountain's plot, she wouldn't have ended up like this..." Huang Yaying couldn't finish her sentence.
"In my opinion, she is too narrow-minded and has misunderstood.
If not for you, who knows what would have happened to us." She patted her chest, filled with relief.
With Empty Mountain captured, Su Xiaoqi had perfectly covered up for them.
Her family had no knowledge of her situation.
If Empty Mountain hadn't been captured, they would have definitely suffered a great loss.
And who knew how many more people would suffer such disgusting things afterward.
Originally, with Empty Mountain's death, this matter was considered resolved.
As long as no one mentioned it again, everyone could live their lives peacefully.
But some things just couldn't proceed as planned.
Bai Yuzhu was criticized by her husband's family.
The fact that she had prayed for a child at the Huangjue Temple and performed rituals for her first pregnancy was revealed by a sister-in-law who was at odds with her.
The child was also questioned.
After Empty Mountain's death, she was among those who were divorced.
And her child was also sent to a manor with a casual excuse to fend for themselves.
Su Xiaoqi heard about Bai Yuzhu's situation for the first time, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Then why did she come out yesterday?"
After such an incident, why did she still come out to enjoy the Lantern Festival on the Lantern Festival?
Uh, although it was not good to say so, she was just curious.
If ordinary people encountered such a situation, they would probably have been unable to bear it.
They would definitely hide at home alone, not wanting to see anyone.
Huang Yaying said, "I'm not very clear about this, but seeing them just now, they probably suspect that Madam Shen revealed the past incident."
Su Xiaoqi cursed in her heart, "What the hell?" This was a typical case of someone sitting at home and being blamed for something they didn't do.
Did she really look like someone who gossiped so much?
She looked at Huang Yaying with some speechlessness and said, "Whether Young Madam Xu believes it or not, I truly didn't say anything."
She was too busy to get involved in their affairs.
Huang Yaying nodded and said she believed her, otherwise, she wouldn't have specially brought them to Liuyuan to cover for them back then.
"But only a few of us know about this, and we are all women of the inner chambers. Madam Shen, can you think of a way..."
Su Xiaoqi blinked and understood Huang Yaying's meaning.
She readily agreed, "This matter concerns the reputation of a few of us. I will find someone to investigate."
Seeing Su Xiaoqi agree, Huang Yaying breathed a sigh of relief.
She curtsied and thanked Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi quickly helped her up, saying that she should thank her for informing her of this matter.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have known why she was hated for no reason.
After sending Huang Yaying away, Su Xiaoqi immediately summoned Zhang Yu and asked her to investigate who leaked these rumors.
After leaving Chun Ya Lou, the Old Madam, supported by Madam Wen, was waiting for her.
"Xiaoqi, I'll have Changfeng take you back."
Su Xiaoqi looked at the Old Madam, then at the Duke of Yu's household guards behind her, who were now lively after her treatment, and nodded.
The Old Madam's situation didn't require her to worry too much.
As she was leaving, the Old Madam advised her not to go out casually for the time being.
"The situation is too chaotic!"
Su Xiaoqi knew very well what the Old Madam was referring to. She nodded heavily, hugged the Old Madam, and said she wouldn't be able to visit them for some time.
"It's good that you're safe!" The Old Madam got into the carriage.
Everyone waved goodbye.
Su Xiaoqi, with her family in tow, returned to the mansion under the escort of Yu Changfeng.
She went to find Shen Yun first.
However, she learned that Shen Yun had not returned since last night.
"Is my husband alright?" Su Xiaoqi was a little worried about him.
Zhang Yu comforted her, "My lord is extraordinarily skilled, cautious, and holds the tiger tally of the Three Thousand Battalion. He should be fine."
If anything were to happen, it would be to others.
Su Xiaoqi looked at Zhang Yu, "You're back. Have you found out about the matter?"
Zhang Yu spread her hands, "It was effortless."
"Who is it?"
Zhang Yu quickly replied, "Bai Yuzhu did it."
Su Xiaoqi was stunned for a moment. Bai Yuzhu did it? Then why had she been so sarcastic towards her earlier?
Wasn't this a case of the thief crying "Stop thief!"?
"Her husband's concubine and a sister-in-law found out about her affairs and found a way to get her divorced. She was unwilling and decided to drag everyone down with her.
And, and she framed you for it."
Zhang Yu frowned as she spoke.
What kind of official's wife was this? She was a complete schemer.