Sixth Concubine signaled Song Chaoyu to retreat with her, and they slowly moved away from the areas of the backyard where people might pass.
After they had retreated to a secluded corner, Sixth Concubine’s dagger remained pressed against Song Chaoyu’s neck: “Fourth Miss is an intelligent person. You should know that if I were to act like this in the Song manor without an absolute reason, I wouldn’t have come this far. Don’t you agree?”
Song Chaoyu’s eyes turned slightly cold, her gaze fixed on Tiaohong.
Fortunately, without Sixth Concubine’s instruction, the maid dared not harm Tiaohong.
Song Chaoyu dared not be careless. She tilted her head slightly, catching a glimpse of a lock of Sixth Concubine’s hair falling on her chest: “What do you want?”
Sixth Concubine surveyed her surroundings, knowing that time was of the essence. She asked Song Chaoyu directly, “Is the Sea Jade Plum Blossom Pendant with you?”
Song Chaoyu’s heart jolted, but she maintained a facade of calm confusion: “Sea Jade? You mean… the Sea Jade from the Southern Kingdom? That is a precious item, presented annually to the court by the Southern Kingdom. I am merely a minor concubine’s daughter, living outside the main residence of the Minister’s manor. How could I possibly possess something as valuable as Sea Jade?”
Sixth Concubine found no clues in Song Chaoyu’s words, but she remained vigilant: “You don’t? Did His Highness Prince Chang not give you the Sea Jade Plum Blossom Pendant?”
She actually knew that Mu Changxi had sent the Sea Jade Pendant?
What secret was hidden within that Sea Jade Pendant?
Song Chaoyu frowned, momentarily unable to discern whether Mu Changxi had deliberately sent the Sea Jade Pendant to her.
If so, then he had known all along that someone was searching for this Sea Jade Pendant, right?
If not, it would prove that he likely didn’t know anyone was looking for that Sea Jade Pendant.
However, regardless of the circumstances, Song Chaoyu could not hand over the Sea Jade Pendant.
Therefore, she could only feign ignorance: “I don’t know what you are talking about. Why would Prince Chang send me something as precious as a Sea Jade Pendant?”
In truth, Sixth Concubine had found it rather strange when she received this information.
However, her visit to the Song family this time was also for this very purpose.
Her dagger moved slightly, causing Song Chaoyu to feel a sharp pain at her neck.
Sixth Concubine’s tone grew increasingly sinister: “Fourth Miss, I am not much older than you. So, I advise you, ask as little as possible. Just hand over the Sea Jade Pendant. You don’t need to know anything else.”
Song Chaoyu, perhaps because she had already faced death once, felt less fear after the dagger’s sting.
Her tone was calm: “If I do not have that item, then even if Sixth Concubine kills me today, it will be in vain. As a mere concubine’s daughter of the Song family, what connection could I possibly have with His Highness Prince Chang? Even if he visited the Song manor and delivered something, it would have been for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.”
“However… I believe Sixth Concubine would not kill me, would you?”
Song Chaoyu inwardly knew that Sixth Concubine was no ordinary person: “Although I do not know why you have come to the Song manor, or why you serve my father. But if you kill me in the Song manor now, you will not escape either. If you cannot obtain the Sea Jade Pendant, and instead commit the foolish act of killing me and adding another life to your tally, you would not do that, would you?”
Her thoughts having been exposed, a slight twitch appeared on Sixth Concubine’s forehead.
But she did not lower her dagger, instead looking at Tiaohong opposite them.
The maid holding Tiaohong understood immediately: “This young lady’s life cannot be harmed, but this maid is different! I recall your name is Tiaohong, right?”
Tiaohong felt the dagger move back and forth against her neck, and fear gripped her heart.
The person asked Tiaohong: “Does your young lady have a Sea Jade Pendant? It has the shape of a plum blossom within. Think carefully. If you have that item, your life can be saved. Otherwise, you will accompany your young lady to the grave first!”
Song Chaoyu, while not entirely disbelieving Tiaohong, felt a flicker of worry.
Tiaohong knew about that jade pendant.
However, even though Tiaohong was trembling with fear, her eyes reddened as she vehemently denied it: “The most precious of our young lady’s belongings is a white jade pendant from the Old Madam. Where would she have a Sea Jade Plum Blossom Pendant? If she truly had such an item, wouldn’t she wear it on her person every day?”
“Ah!”
The dagger grazed Tiaohong’s neck, startling her into a cry.
But the maid covered Tiaohong’s mouth with her other hand. Song Chaoyu quickly stepped forward and said in a low voice: “Don’t hurt her! If you are looking for it, I can help you search the Song manor! But if you kill her for something that doesn’t exist, even though she is just a maid of the Song family, aren’t you afraid of stirring up trouble in the Song manor?!”
Indeed, Song Chaoyu’s words had an effect.
The maid’s grip on Tiaohong loosened slightly.
“Swish—”
Just as Song Chaoyu was about to continue her “negotiation” with Sixth Concubine, she heard the sound of something cutting through the air—
“Mmph!”
Before she could react, blood suddenly spurted from the hand of the maid accompanying Sixth Concubine!
With a clatter, the dagger in her hand fell to the ground.
She crouched down, clutching her injured wrist, and scanned her surroundings: “Who is it?!”
The surroundings were empty and silent. Song Chaoyu became even more vigilant: How could there be another expert in the Song manor besides Sixth Concubine?
The dagger that Sixth Concubine had held against Song Chaoyu’s neck also loosened.
She picked up the dart stained with blood from the ground and said to her maid: “It’s a master! It seems Miss Song has someone protecting her.”
She glanced at Song Chaoyu with a deep gaze: “Is it someone from your Song family, or someone else?”
Song Chaoyu shook her head: “I truly do not know.”
Sixth Concubine could not detect any trace of deception in Song Chaoyu’s eyes.
She could only darken her gaze, then withdraw her dagger and say to her maid: “We should not linger here. Let’s go! If the jade pendant is truly with her, we will find it one day!”
The maid nodded and followed Sixth Concubine, clutching her wound.
Song Chaoyu quickly stepped forward and supported Tiaohong: “Tiaohong, are you alright?”
Tiaohong took a handkerchief to cover the wound on Song Chaoyu’s neck: “Miss… who are they?”
Actually, Song Chaoyu was more eager to know who had saved them.
Seeing Song Chaoyu’s silence, Tiaohong asked softly: “Should this servant go and find the Crown Princess these past two days, and see Prince Chang again—”
“Hush!”
Song Chaoyu quickly signaled her to stop speaking and looked around: “From now on, do not mention him in the manor. If we go to the Crown Princess now, it will be like telling Sixth Concubine about our relationship with him. Let’s wait. We just need to be careful these past two days.”