The First Madam chuckled, then glanced at Song Chaoyu before clearing her throat to mask her embarrassment. "It's nothing major, really. I just noticed Mother seemed a bit down these past few days, so I thought I'd invite her out for a stroll. The moon is quite lovely tonight, don't you think, Mother?"
Song Chaoyu looked up at the sky. There were countless stars scattered across it, but no bright moon.
The Old Madam furrowed her brow and reprimanded the First Madam, "What is going on?"
The First Madam knew her lie wouldn't hold up, so she quickly lowered her head to the Old Madam. "It's just that there was a servant acting like a thief in the household today, and we were planning to catch him. But seeing how frail you've become, Mother, my heart ached. I thought such a small matter shouldn't trouble you, and I felt uneasy about it."
"Really?"
The Old Madam surveyed the surroundings and found nothing amiss in the courtyard, which somewhat put her mind at ease. "If that's truly the case, then as the mistress of the Song family, you have the authority to handle it."
"Yes."
The First Madam didn't actually know what the situation was ahead. She only knew that seeing Song Chaoyu meant something was wrong.
Just as the Old Madam was about to leave, Song Chaoyu stepped forward. "Grandmother, shall we go take a look too?"
The Old Madam cast Song Chaoyu a curious glance and saw a childlike curiosity about the world in her eyes. "Your granddaughter also wishes to witness what kind of thief dares to steal in our Song Manor!"
She gently tugged on the Old Madam's arm. "Besides, Mother is right. Grandmother has been cooped up in her courtyard all day. Since we've finally come out, it would be a shame to go back empty-handed, wouldn't it? Let's take a walk. Didn't Physician Fan say it? A walk after meals can lead to a long life!"
"Hahaha, you clever girl!"
Song Chaoyu's words made the Old Madam laugh. "You know just how to please this old woman! Alright, let's go, let's go, we'll go and see!"
Now that the Old Madam was in good spirits, her gaze towards the First Madam softened. "You lead the way, where is this thief? Let's all go have a look!"
The First Madam glanced at Song Chaoyu again, unsure of what Song Chaoyu was plotting.
She regretted not telling Song Yanjiao about this.
But the Old Madam urged her on, "What is it? Why are you spacing out? Hurry and lead us to see!"
The First Madam had no other choice but to nod and then point towards the direction of the long pavilion and wooden bridge. "They say... the thief is over there."
The Old Madam nodded and then said to the surrounding maids and servants, "Extinguish the torches! Tread lightly. Otherwise, if a whole group of people with torches goes over, won't that scare the thief away?"
The maids and servants quickly extinguished the torches in their hands and followed the Old Madam and the First Madam towards the long pavilion.
By the time they reached the long pavilion, Song Chaoyu still hadn't seen where Zhu Zi was.
However, despite her age, the Old Madam had good hearing.
She suddenly stopped and signaled everyone to halt. Then she pointed towards the wooden bridge and then to her ears.
Everyone, including the First Madam, perked up their ears.
Even Song Chaoyu could hear it – strange sounds were coming from beneath the wooden bridge!
The sounds were from a man and a woman, rhythmic and intimate.
Upon hearing this, the First Madam and the Old Madam's expressions changed drastically.
Whether in her past life or this one, Song Chaoyu had never experienced anything of that nature. Yet, she understood what was happening beneath the wooden bridge.
The Old Madam's eyes sharpened. She then signaled everyone to be quiet and slowly moved towards the area beneath the wooden bridge.
The closer they got to the bridge, the clearer the sounds became.
Nie Pingshu immediately recognized the man's voice as Zhu Zi's. As for the woman's voice... it was Song Yanrou's.
She wasn't surprised at all. She just hadn't expected Song Yanrou to be so shameless. To think that a little provocation from her would lead to such an act.
In reality, Song Chaoyu had only intended for the Old Madam to see Song Yanrou and Zhu Zi speaking in private today. Now that Song Yanrou had "willingly indulged," she couldn't blame anyone else.
The First Madam had received news that Song Chaoyu was supposed to be meeting a servant here privately today.
How was it that as they got closer, she was hearing Song Yanrou's voice?
She was utterly astonished. After all, the Second Concubine and Song Yanrou had always been dependent on the First Madam. Such a disgraceful incident, the First Madam did not want Song Yanrou to be involved in!
"Light the torches and seize them!"
The Old Madam, naturally, also recognized that it was one of the family's young ladies.
She was furious and, disregarding everything else, immediately instructed Granny Yin to go forward personally.
In an instant, the surrounding torches were lit, and Song Chaoyu could see everything clearly!
"Ah!"
Song Yanrou hadn't even realized what was happening. Upon hearing the Old Madam's voice, she let out a startled cry and pushed away Zhu Zi, who was pressing down on her!
She tried to reach for her clothes to cover herself, but it was too late.
Granny Yin stepped forward and bound her hands behind her back. Simultaneously, several robust and strong matrons restrained Zhu Zi.
Looking at the scene before her, Song Chaoyu felt that only the words "decadent" and "chaotic" could describe it!
Zhu Zi was completely unclothed, his body slick with sweat. He was still in a dazed state when several matrons pinned him down.
Song Yanrou still had a half-undone embroidered bellyband with a mandarin duck motif hanging on her. However, this single piece of clothing couldn't conceal anything.
There were many ambiguous red marks on her body. Just looking at the conspicuous red bloodstains on the patch of grass where she had been lying indicated what had happened to her!
Her eyes were filled with fear, and her body trembled uncontrollably as she shrunk back. However, she couldn't resist Granny Yin's strength and was thus dragged away in a disheveled, semi-naked state, her entire self exposed to everyone's eyes.
"Fourth girl, turn around. This is not something you should see."
While the Old Madam was in a state of extreme shock and anger, she still thought of Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu had already seen what she needed to see, but she still turned around, knowing she didn't need to watch any further.
So, she obediently turned her head away and then heard the Old Madam's furious voice, "Third girl, lift your head! Let me see, is it you!"
"Wuwuwu—"
Song Yanrou knew she had committed a grave offense this time and naturally dared not lift her head, only sobbing uncontrollably.
Even the First Madam, seeing that it was Song Yanrou and not Song Chaoyu in this situation, felt a surge of unprovoked anger. "Lift your head! Didn't you hear your grandmother?"